The Gazetteers Department

THE BUILDINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT at the district level is under the dual control of the State Government as also of the Zilla Parishad. All the works relating to the roads below the category of State highways and the buildings required by the Zilla Parishad are the responsibility of the Zilla Parishad. The responsibility for the maintenance of State and National Highways and Buildings required by the State sector are the responsibility of the department under the State sector. The responsibility regarding all minor irrigation schemes that will irrigate less than 101.17 hectares (250 acres) of land vests with the Zilla Parishad.

The department at the State level is. headed by the Chief Engineer to the Government who is also the Joint Secretary to the Government. Under the Chief Engineer are the Superintending Engineers of Buildings and Communications Circles and the Electrical Engineer to the Government.

The Superintending Engineer is in charge of the department and is responsible for the administration and general professional control of all the works in charge of the Buildings and Communications Department in his circle. Sangli district falls under the jurisdiction of the Superintending Engineer, Central Circle, Poona. He has to satisfy himself that the system of management prevailing is efficient and economic. He is empowered to transfer and post Deputy Engineers and Overseers in his circle. However, Executive Engineers are consulted before posting these officers to particular sub-divisional charges under their control for administrative convenience. He recommends removal and transfer of Executive Engineers from his Circle. He is also the authority in whom vests the supervision and control of assessment of revenue from irrigation works within his Circle. He is authorised to correspond direct with any of the local authorities, civil or military, within his Circle.

The Executive Engineer is responsible to the Superintending Engineer of his Circle for execution and management of all works within the district in the State sector. The works coming under the district sector are controlled by the Parishad Executive Engineer who is responsible to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad.

The headquarters of the Executive Engineer, Buildings and Communications Department in the State sector was at Sangli up to April 30, 1962. It was, however, merged with Kolhapur Division from May 1, 1962. On the formation of the Zilla Parishad, the works which remained with the State sector alongwith the Buildings and Communications Sub-Division, Sangli, the Special Project Sub-Division. Sangli and the Building Project Sub-Division, Vita were attached to the Kolhapur Sub-Division.

The Overseers are in charge of Sections. They work under the Sub-Divisional Officers. The activities of the department relate to construction, repairs and maintenance of roads (State Highways and National Highways) and Government buildings which have remained with the State sector.

The department: in the State sector has to maintain National Highways and State Highways which account for 344.04 km. (213.98 miles) composed of 29.47 km. (18.31 miles) of State Highways, and 314.57 km. (195.47 miles) of National Highways. These roads are maintained by the Executive Engineer, Buildings and Communications Division, Kolhapur. The Deputy Engineer, Buildings and Communications Sub-Division, Sangli, looks after the construction and maintenance of State highways and National highways and the buildings in the district in the State sector under his jurisdiction.

The department' at the district level is headed by the Parishad Executive Engineer. He is directly responsible to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad. However, in technical matter' the advice of the Superintending Engineer prevails. The Sangli Zilla Parishad has undertaken a lot of constructional activity since its formation.

Electrical Circle.

The functions of the Electrical Circle under Buildings and Communications Department are execution of electrical works in Government buildings and carrying out inspection of public installations as required under the I. E. Act, 1910 and Rules thereunder. This Circle has also 10 work as an adviser to Government in respect of administration of I. E. Act and Rules thereunder.

The Electrical Circle, under the Buildings and Communications Department is headed by the Electrical Engineer to Government whose jurisdiction extends over the entire State of Maharashtra.

There are five Electrical Divisions working under the Electrical Engineer to Government in charge of the Executive Engineers, two at Bombay, two at Poona and one at Nagpur. Of these five Divisions, one each is at Bombay, Poona and Nagpur, and are carrying out twofold duties as stated above and the officer-in- charge (i.e.. Executive Engineer) is also designated as the Electrical Inspector.

The Executive Engineer and Electrical Inspector, Poona Electrical Division, Poona, has jurisdiction over Sangli district alongwith other districts of the State.

There are four Sub-Divisions under the Executive Engineer and Electrical Inspector, Poona Division, Poona. One of the Sub-Divisions with its headquarters at Kolhapur is in charge of the Deputy Engineer and Assistant Electrical Inspector, Kolhapur. His jurisdiction extends over Sangli district besides two other districts.

The Divisional Officer at Poona has to execute original and special repairs and maintenance works of electrical installations in Government buildings under his jurisdiction in his capacity as the Executive Engineer and has to carry out inspections of M. P. and H. T. public electrical installations in his capacity as Electrical Inspector.

TOP