Baliguda vig case: Critics point to extended tenures for corruption

Koraput: The recent vigilance recovery from Baliguda assistant executive engineer Baikuntha Nath Behera has once again brought the issue of prolonged deputation of engineers in various departments under the spotlight, with critics alleging that extended tenures have contributed to corruption in tribal development projects.Behera, who joined the govt service on Aug 16, 1999, was deputed to the tribal welfare department in 2001 and has continued to serve there since. During searches conducted last Saturday, Vigilance officials reportedly unearthed assets including six multi-storeyed buildings, 14 plots, around 552g gold, nearly Rs 45 lakh cash and more than Rs 2 crore kept in a bank locker.The concerns have gained significance in light of a memorandum issued by works department on Nov 12, 2024, which stipulates that the maximum tenure of deputation of an engineer in any borrowing engineering or technical department should not exceed six years. Despite this provision, several officials are reportedly continuing in tribal development assignments for 15 to 20 years or more.The vigilance action against Behera has intensified demands for a review of such prolonged deputations. Activists argue that periodic rotation of officials is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of development projects in tribal areas.Tribal welfare campaigner and former president of Koraput Bar Association Ajit Patra said that regular rotation helps promote transparency and reduces the possibility of vested interests influencing project implementation. The govt should undertake a comprehensive review of all deputation cases in Integrated Tribal Development Agencies, where officials have exceeded the prescribed tenure, he added.Repeated attempts to contact the director of the ST department on the prolonged deputation of engineers and implementation of the tenure norms went unanswered.