Severe Government Action Against Negligence in Shravani Mela Preparations; Executive Engineer of Road Construction Department, Banka, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Suspended for Major Delays in Road Repairs
Bhagalpur, Chief Correspondent: The state government and district administration appear entirely resolute regarding the smooth journey of millions of Shiva devotees and Kanwarias arriving from across the country and abroad during the world-famous, sacred Shravani Mela. With just a few days remaining until the commencement of the mela, the axe has started falling on officials who displayed gross negligence in repairing and renovating crucial roads. Holding him accountable for ignoring clear directives to make key roads connected to Bhagalpur and Banka traffic-worthy on time, the Road Construction Department (RCD) has taken major action, suspending Sanjeev Kumar Singh, the Executive Engineer of the Road Construction Department, Banka, with immediate effect.
A wave of panic has rippled through the administrative machinery following this strict punitive action taken on the detailed report and recommendation of the District Magistrate (DM).
What Is the Whole Issue? Extreme Sluggishness in Shravani Mela Route Repairs
Every year during the holy month of Shravan, a massive influx of Kanwarias heading to Deoghar (Baidyanath Dham) fills water from Sultanganj (the northern bank of the Ganges) and traverses through Banka and other accessible routes. The road network experiences heavy traffic pressure during this period. Keeping this in mind, the government had issued instructions much in advance to repair roads associated with the mela zone, fill potholes, and undertake patch work.
According to sources, several crucial road routes coming under the Banka division had been in a dilapidated state for a long time. In view of the Shravani Mela, Executive Engineer Sanjeev Kumar Singh was entrusted with the responsibility of restoring these roads. However, despite repeated warnings and directives from review meetings, the pace of work on the ground remained painfully sluggish. With the mela approaching and road potholes remaining unfilled, leaving routes unfit for travelers, widespread local discontent emerged.
Major Action by the Road Construction Department on the DM's Report
When inspections exposed the wretched condition of the roads and administrative lethargy, the district administration took the matter very seriously. Considering the potential hardships awaiting Kanwarias in areas bordering Bhagalpur and Banka, the District Magistrate dispatched a detailed, strongly worded report directly to senior officials of the Road Construction Department.
The report clarified that the executive engineer had not only shown negligence toward his duties but also ignored the government's highest-priority 'Shravani Mela Preparation Scheme'. Acting swiftly on this report, the Deputy Secretary of the Road Construction Department issued an official notification suspending Executive Engineer Sanjeev Kumar Singh.
Purnia Headquarters Assigned During the Suspension Period
According to the notification issued by the department, during the period of suspension, the headquarters of the suspended executive engineer, Sanjeev Kumar Singh, has been fixed at the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Road Construction Department, Road Circle, Purnia. Furthermore, under departmental rules, a separate detailed chargesheet is being framed against him to initiate subsequent departmental proceedings.
Administrative Message: No Laxity Tolerated in Development Works and Public Interest
This stern step by the government sends a clear message that those who show slackness in any major religious event, disaster management, or the development of public infrastructure at the administrative level will not be spared. Especially during events of national and international significance like the Shravani Mela, if infrastructure or deteriorating road conditions cause distress to Kanwarias, direct accountability will be established through similarly severe administrative measures.
This action against the executive engineer of Banka serves as clear proof that the administration now demands ground-level results rather than paper claims. It is anticipated that following this strict action, other concerned departments and officials will wake up and complete the remaining road construction and repair works on a war footing within the stipulated timeframe, ensuring that Shiva devotees traveling from Sultanganj to Deoghar do not face any form of inconvenience.
