Shopian, Nov 16: The additional charges assigned to the officials have significantly marred the smooth functioning of Rural Development Department (RDD) in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Sources said that at least four Block Development Officers( BDOs) working in different blocks of the district were given the additional charges, affecting the efficiency of the public service delivery system.
According to the sources, the BDO Shopian holds the additional charge of Zainpora, Chitragam and Kaprin blocks while the BDO Ramnagri has assumed the additional charge of the Kanjiullar block.
Similarly, the BDO Shopian (headquarter) has been given the additional charge of Imam Sahib.
On November 13, the BDO of Keller block assumed the additional charge as Assistant Road Transport Officer (ARTO) Shopian.
Due to the additional charges, the officials have to shuttle between different blocks and departments, making them inaccessible to the general public.
“We sometimes wait for hours at their offices only to find later that they have attended their duties in other blocks”, said the residents.
They said that people suffered terribly as the officials remained tied up with multiple assignments.
The additional charges, according to the residents, also take a toll on the effective implementation of various government schemes. Many Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers are waiting for their wage payments for a long time while the bills of some contractors are pending.
A contractor told Greater Kashmir that the bills for the work he executed months ago were yet to be cleared.
“Transport department is a very busy department. It has to conduct driving skill tests and vehicle inspections besides other functions. The department requires a full-fledged officer”, said the residents.