MARGAO: Public Works Department (PWD) employees in Margao haven’t been transferred from their divisions in over 10 years, even though they have to be transferred to other divisions every three years. The stagnant PWD employees have lately become a headache to the common man. Presently, 35 percent of them have no work to do. People and the press have time and again exposed the laziness of the PWD employees. The accounts officer, writer, cashier, clerk, peon and several others have been in the same place for over 10 years now. PWD officers, as high as executive engineers and assistant engineers, undergo routine transfers every three years. However, the government has turned a blind eye to the issue.
When questioned, PWD Superintending Engineer Borkar stated, “The rule of transfer every three years is a common rule for all government employees. While it is true that PWD employees are not immune to transfers, they cannot be forced to shift.” Mahesh Naik, convenor of Jai Damodar Association, stated, “Several PWD employees have maintained good relationships with politicians, and so they have managed to avert transfers for more than 10 years. The principal chief engineer has become the special man of politicians. If the employee transfers are not drawn within 45 days, I will hold a strike outside the principal chief engineer’s office.” He continued, “The people who help politicians during elections get jobs in the department. Many such employees are then posted at one of the PWD rest houses. Presently, all works of the PWD are done by drivers and peons, while the others are passing time on social networking sites.” Meanwhile, people have demanded that the government look into the matter.
