The Gazetteers Department

THE BUILDINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT at the district level is under the dual control of the State Government and the Zilla Parishad, respectively. The sphere of activities has been divided into two sectors. The works regarding major district roads and the roads of the lower order, buildings required by the Animal Husbandry department and other departments at the tahsil level, all constructional activities under the block development schemes and all the works relating to tanks which will irrigate less than 80.93 hectares (200 acres) of land are the responsibility of the Zilla Parishad, while the works relating to National Highways, State Highways, the buildings required for the administrative departments in the State sector, construction and maintenance of electric installations in Government buildings are entrusted to the department in the State sector.

Chief Engineer.

The Chief Engineer who is also the Joint Secretary to the Government is the head of the department at the State level. Under him are the Superintending Engineers of Buildings and Communications Circles and Electrical Engineer to the Government. Each circle, comprising five or more divisions, is controlled by a Superintending Engineer. The divisions are in charge of Executive Engineers and sub-divisions are under Assistant or Deputy Engineers. The Chandrapur division comes under the control of Buildings and Communications Circle, Nagpur, and has four sub-divisions under it, viz.,-

(1) Chandrapur sub-division, Chandrapur; (2) Sindewahi sub-division, Sindewahi; (3) Wardha Bridge Construction sub-division with its headquarters at Ballarshah; and (4) Aheri sub-division, Aheri. An additional division, under the charge of an Executive Engineer, has been created to look after the East Pakistan [Now Bangla Desh.] refugee rehabilitation work in the district.

Superintending Engineer.

The Superintending Engineer is responsible for the administration and general professional control over public works in charge of the department within his circle. It is his duty to inspect the state of various works within his circle and to ensure efficient administration with maximum economy. He has to examine the condition of surveying and mathematical instruments at the headquarters of the divisions and control the allotment of funds for various constructional and maintenance works in the divisions. He is required to ensure the efficiency of the subordinate officers and petty establishments and to report whether the staff actually employed in each division is necessary or adequate for the management. The Superintending Engineer is empowered to transfer and post the Deputy Engineers and Overseers within his circle in the interest of administration. However, Executive Engineers of the concerned divisions are consulted before posting these officers to the sub-divisions under their control.

Executive Engineer.

The Executive Engineer is responsible to the Superintending Engineer or his circle for execution and management of all works within his division. He has to see that proper measures are taken to preserve all the buildings and works in his division and to prevent encroachments on Government land under his charge. He is also ex-officio professional adviser to all departments of the State in regard to matters under their control within the limits of his charge.

The Chandrapur division has about 603.50 km (375 miles) of State Highways under it. During the Third Five Year Plan, the division undertook improvements to those roads and construction of 26 bridges.

Electrical Circle.

The functions of the Electrical Circle under the Buildings and Communications department are execution of electrical works in Government buildings and carrying out advisory, administrative and executive duties pertaining to generation and use of electricity and administration of Indian Electricity Act, 1956; Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 and Electricity Duty Act, 1963.

The Electrical Circle is headed by the Electrical Engineer to Government whose jurisdiction extends over the whole State. The Electrical Circle is divided into two wings, viz., the executive wing and inspection wing at the divisional level. The executive wing has four electrical divisions each under the charge of an Executive Engineer with headquarters at Bombay, Poona, Nagpur and Aurangabad. Chanda district falls under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Engineer, Electrical sub-division, Nagpur.

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