CPWD’S CONUNDRUM

With the fast approaching retirement of Abhay Sinha, director-general Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the government seems to be in a fix about his successor. The dilemma seems to be due to the seniority of a special DG, which makes him a natural claimant for the post of director general. He comes from architectural engineering cadre, which has never headed the organisation so far. Sources say that he cannot be denied the top post straightaway due to his seniority.

Traditionally, the top post usually goes to the civil engineering cadre, though on occasion, the electrical and mechanical engineering cadre too have got the opportunity to head the organisation. Currently, there are six special DG rank posts, of which four are held by civil engineering cadre and one each by electrical/mechanical cadre and architectural engineering cadre.

Sources say that keeping in view CPWD’s professional mandate and job description, it appears unlikely that the CPWD chief’s post would be given to the architecture engineering cadre.

The ministry of housing and urban affairs has recently got one more DG rank post approved so that the senior most special DG (architecture engineer) could be given DG rank. The government may take some more time to announce the next DG for CPWD, but one thing is clear that this would be for the first time that CPWD would have two DGs together.