As Irrigation Department cracks whip, CEs to SDO all face music

Chandigarh, March 2, 2015: The Punjab Irrigation Department today took its fight against corruption to logical conclusion by cracking a whip targeting right from Chief Engineer to SDO level to send a strong message of accountability in the department. In an exemplary action, the department today forcibly retired one Executive Engineer (XEN), one SDO and one Ziledar and dismissing two SDO’s.

In a rare move the department has also ordered a cut of 10 percent pension in pension of recently retired three Chief Engineers, one Superintending Engineer and four XEN’s.

These orders have been issued by Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Irrigation Department, Punjab.

Punjab Irrigation Minister, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that all those who don’t perform their duty with devotion and honestly will not be spared. He said that his main aim is to provide a corruption free atmosphere in the Irrigation Department, Punjab.

Kahan Singh Pannu informed that all the pending inquiries would be completed in a time bound manner so that action can be taken against those bringing bad name to the Irrigation department.

A spokesperson of the Punjab government informed that XEN Balihar Singh Kataria, SDO Taranjit Singh and Ziledar Rajinder Singh have been forcibly retired. Similarly, SDO’s Kulwant Singh and Satpal Singh have been dismissed from service.

Action has also been taken against a Chief Engineer whose one year increment has been stopped. A cut of 10 percent has been levied on the pension of recently retired Chief Engineers Sukhjinder Singh, Jarnail Singh and R K Goel. The same cut has also been levied on the pension of Superintending Engineer Kuldip Singh Bhathal, and XEN’s Gurmel Singh, Satish Kumar Bansal and Rakesh Anand.