J&K Jal Shakti Department has as an administrative exigency ordered elevation of 25 Executive Engineers as Superintending.
As per Government Order No. 94-JK(JSD) of 2025 and No. 100-JK(JSD) of 2025, 25 XEns have been placed as Superintending Engineers on an incharge basis to overcome the shortage of over 90% vacancies at the level of SEs which was adversely and severely affecting the implementation of various water supply schemes on ground.
Earlier, Jal Shakti Minister, Javed Ahmed Rana after reviewing the human resource scenario of the Department, had directed for exploring the ways and means of elevating XEns as SEs to overcome the shortage of senior officers, that occured due to poor human resource management over the years.
Rana, who has been regularly reviewing HR scenario in Jal Shakti has issued clear instructions for timely conduct of DPCs and greater urgency and coordination between the officers of Jal Shakti and recruiting agency to fill all vacancies on emergent basis.
A spokesperson, of the Department informed that on the directions of minister, a accountability mechanism is being put in place to ensure that officers responsible for allowing mismanagement in the cadre of engineers in Jal Shakti are held accountable.
The elevations ordered in relaxation of rules as an administratove exigency has enabled the Department to fill 25 critical supervisory posts that are crucial to the implementation of important wayer supply schemes including the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Several Engineers of Jal Shakti Department while hailing the initiative of Jal Shakti minister in pushing elevation at such a rapid pace and amending recruitment rules to offset the extraordinary situation of over 90% vacancies at the level of Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers has also thanked the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for nod in the Council of Minister to the departmental proposal for relaxing rules to address the exceptional circumstances.
“This move will certainly improve the implementation of water supply schemes in the Department”, remarked a retired Chief Engineer who admitted that focus on efficient cadre management is the last priority in engineering departments.
