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Water conservation dept awaiting transfer of personnel for 8 yrs

Fadnavis' pet project affected

The Mantralaya building (File Photo)

Eight years since the Maharashtra agriculture department was divided to carve out the water conservation department, the transfer of nearly 9,000 personnel from the parent department to the new one is yet to be completed.

Citing shortage of workforce, the agriculture department has shown reluctance to release even 2,000 personnel as per the new demand. The shortage is likely to affect the ongoing work of on-site inspection of water conservation structure, which is also a part of the third version of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pet project Jalyukta Shivar, aimed to improve water availability through artificial farm ponds, deepening river beds, and constructing check dams to boost water percolation.

In 2017, the water conservation department was carved out as an independent department. Then Minister of State (Home) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ram Shinde, was elevated as cabinet minister to head the new department. After the formation of the new department, the state cabinet approved for transferring 9,000 officials. However, the decision was never implemented.
“After several rounds of discussions, the Water Conservation Department agreed to a compromise of receiving 2,000 staff, but even that has not been completed,” another official from the water conservation department said.

With no clear resolution in sight, the senior official from the water conservation department indicated that the ministry might need to redraw its staffing structure and begin fresh recruitment. “This will be a long process, and until then, many of the department’s works could be severely impacted,” he added.

Under the third version of Jalyukta Shivar, the water conservation department is being tasked to physically verify around 14 lakh water conservation structures constructed from 1972 till 2022 that are mapped by the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC). The work is yet to begin.

“There are around 27,000 sanctioned posts in the agriculture department, but only 19,000 are filled. If 9,000 staff members are transferred, the department would be severely crippled,” a senior official from the agriculture department said.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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