OTHER DEPARTMENTS

BUILDINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Roads and Buildings

The Buildings and Communications Department deals with matters pertaining to (I) roads and buildings and (II) electricity. At the district level, these branches are in charge of separate departments.

Prior to the formation of the Zilla Parishad, Bhir, (B. & C.,) division was in charge of the Executive Engineer, Bhir and formed part of the Aurangabad (B. & C.) Circle. With the formation of the Zilla Parishad on May 1, 1962, the Bhir Division was abolished and roads and buildings works as defined in the Zilla Parishads Act were transferred to the Bhir Zilla Parishad. The state sector schemes have, however, been retained by the department. At present there are three Buildings and Communications sub-divisions in Bhir district with headquarters at Bhir, Manjlegaon and Ambejogai. These subdivisions work under the Executive Engineer, Buildings and Communications Division, Osmanabad.

Organisation

For administrative purposes, the state is divided into Buildings and Communications Circles, each circle in charge of a Superintending Engineer. The Circles are divided into divisions which in turn are divided into sub-divisions. The divisions are in charge of the Executive Engineers and the sub-divisions under the Assistant or Deputy Engineers called the Sub-Divisional Officers. The sub-divisions are further divided into sections each in charge of an overseer. At present there are 12 overseers in Bhir district.

Superintending Engineer

The Superintending Engineer is responsible for the general administration and technical control of the public works falling within his circle. He inspects the various public works within his circle to ensure efficient and economic management. He is empowered to transfer the subordinate staff when necessary and is authorised to correspond directly with any of the local authorities, civil or military, within his circle.

Executive Engineer

The Executive Engineer is responsible to the Superintending Engineer of the circle. He is entrusted with the execution and management of all roads and buildings works within his division. He sees to it that all public works within his jurisdiction are properly maintained. The care of the surveying and mathematical instruments is entrusted to the Executive Engineer who reports on their condition to the Superintending Engineer at the end of each working season.

Sub-Divisional Officers

The Sub-Divisional Officers are responsible to the Executive Engineer in charge of the division for the management and execution of works within their sub-divisions.

Overseers

The overseers are in charge of sections and work under the Sub-Divisional Officers.

Roads

The total road mileage in Bhir division maintained by the then District Local Board and the department till 31st March 1961 was as follows: —

(Figures in Kilometres*)

The road length according to surface was as follows: —

*Figures in brackets indicate miles.

Since the formation of the Bhir Zilla Paiishad in. May, 1962, road length coming under the categories major district, other district and village roads have been transferred to the Bhir Zilla Paiishad. The construction of the buildings of the following categories viz., buildings pertaining to animal husbandry agriculture, education and medical and public health departments of the State has also been transferred to the parishad.

Electrical Branch

For administrative, executive and advisory duties pertaining to generation and use of electricity, the Electrical Circle works under the Electrical Engineer to Government, whose jurisdiction extends over the entire area of the State. The State is divided into five Electrical Divisions, each in charge of an Executive Engineer. Of these five electrical divisions, two divisions have their headquarters at Poona, two at Bombay and one at Nagpur. Bhir district falls under the Marathwada Electrical Sub-division, Aurangabad, which comes under the Poona Electrical Division, Poona.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Board supplies electricity to certain towns in Bhir district. Installation of electricity works in government buildings in the district is entrusted to the Deputy Engineer, Marathwada Electrical Sub-division, Aurangabad. The Deputy Engineer is designated as the Assistant Electrical Inspector, Aurangabad, for the purposes of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and carries out inspections of electrical installations under his jurisdiction.