4,852 Posts to Be Filled in Jal Shakti Department: Agnihotri

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Friday announced that the state government has approved the filling of 4,852 posts in the Jal Shakti Department. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by him, and the proposal will now be placed before the Cabinet for final approval.

Agnihotri said posts of pump operators, para-pump operators, and para-fitters have also been sanctioned. In addition, 4,136 posts currently outsourced will now be filled directly at the departmental level, a move expected to save ₹25 crore annually. At present, ₹98 crore is paid to contractors.

Among the sanctioned positions are 111 work inspectors, 100 junior engineers, 505 on compassionate grounds, and 505 hydrologists. Of the 505 compassionate appointments, 76 have already been made, while document verification for the rest has been completed.

The Deputy CM further announced that ‘Jal Rakshaks’ will now be eligible for promotion as pump attendants after eight years of service instead of twelve. “So far, 1,346 of the 3,486 Jal Rakshaks have already been promoted, and the rest will be promoted in due course,” he said. Pump operators and para-fitters will now receive an increased monthly salary of ₹6,000, up from the existing ₹5,000. A new policy is also being formulated to ensure fair remuneration for multi-task workers in the department.

Agnihotri added that the government is considering withdrawing schemes currently run by contractors, given the extensive damage caused by recent natural disasters. He pointed out that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, ₹1,227 crore is still awaited from the central government. “Heavy rains and floods this year damaged hundreds of water schemes, causing losses worth ₹1,476 crore. In Mandi, Siraj, and Dharampur alone, damages exceeded ₹100 crore,” he said.

Immediate measures have been taken to restore drinking water supply to affected communities. Funds will be sought from both the Centre and the state to rebuild damaged irrigation and water supply projects, he added.