Team Herald
PANJIM: In a fresh power trip, controversial officer Nilkanta Reddy is set to be elevated to the post of Chief Electrical Engineer. Sources informed Herald that though Laxmikant Kolvekar is the officiating CEE, Electricity Department has now decided to appoint Reddy as Chief Electrical Engineer.
The department will also have two additional Chief Engineers, who will be designated as CEE (Distribution) and CEE (Transmission). CEE (Distribution) will be responsible for all major activities within the department and sources suggest Reddy will hold this post. Sources said that while Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar is against the move, Reddy has the blessings of top politicians.
Interestingly, Reddy is due to retire on July 31 and his elevation means he would get an extension in service.
What is surprising is that Reddy, who has been vying for the post of CEE, has been facing various inquiries, including departmental inquiries and suspension for cases ranging from misappropriation to negligence.
In 2014, then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had instructed then CEE Lekhshamanan to transfer Reddy from SE (Circle I) to a location where his interaction with the public would be minimal due to complaints of corruption against him. He was accordingly transferred from SE (Circle I) to SE (Commercial).
Interestingly, sources say, outgoing CEE Deepak Bhajikar had taken away inspection of 11kV installation from his purview of the State Inspectorate, which is headed by Reddy, and shifted it to the respective Executive Engineer of that area.
Reddy was promoted to the post of Superintending Engineer (SE) on May 14, 2015. He was posted as SE, Circle I, Margao, than as SE, Planning & Commercial at Panjim. He is presently Additional CE (South).
When contacted Madkaikar said he has no knowledge of the issue. “There is nothing like this. At least I do not know. Some people may be spreading rumours to create confusion amongst officers,” he said.
Madkaikar said he has taken charge a month ago and is still studying the department well. “We want the department to make profit. Right now it is facing huge deficit,” he said adding “Also, I can assure no injustice would be done to any officer.”
Asked for his reaction, Reddy admitted to Herald, he is vying for CEs post. “I am the senior most and deserve to be appointed,” he said.
Asked about the inquiries, he said, “The promotion is cleared by GPSC so that means the Vigilance Department has cleared my name, so I don’t understand where the problem is.” He said some people in the department are unnecessarily trying to defame him and stall the promotion.
