Bihar calls Engineers for the development of infra

Patna, June 10 (PTI) Rural Works Minister Bhim Singh today called for an engineers’ cadre to carry out on full time basis the rural infrastructure projects in Bihar.Informing that he has taken up the matter with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Singh said “there is a need to create a cadre of engineers with the rural works department to carry out construction works related to rural infrastructure on permanent basis.” For that he has urged the state government to take a policy decision at the earliest, Singh told reporters here.Given the enormity of the responsibility of the rural works departement to set up rural infrastructure, including construction of 88,000 km rural road, the department should have an engineers’ cadre to cater to its requirement of manpower, Singh said.Stating that the rural works department had sanctioned post of about 3500 engineers, the minister said the present number of engineers with the department was only about half of the total strength which adversely affected the works.The rural works deparment had to make do with the engineers deputed to it by the Water Resources and Road Construction departments, but these engineers lacked specific skills required to take up rural works projects as well as commitment to discharge their duties, Singh said.The minister hoped that the state government will take a policy decision soon in this regard.