Patna: The state water resources department (WRD) on Sunday took strong action against eight engineers, including the immediate suspension of seven and initiation of departmental proceedings against the eighth, for glaring lapses in plugging breached embankments and undertaking flood-fighting measures in the Gandak basin districts.Apart from this, departmental proceedings have been ordered against chief engineer, Muzaffarpur, Manoj Kumar Gupta, for manifest neglect of duty in conducting emergency flood-fighting operations after the Champaran embankment was breached by the river Gandak.The seven engineers suspended for dereliction of duty include Chapra executive engineer Santosh Kumar Prabhakar, Gopalganj executive engineer Mohammad Sajid Iqbal, Chapra assistant engineers Sunil Kumar and Vinod Kumar, Gopalganj assistant engineer Mohammad Jawed Ansari, Chapra junior engineer Chandrashekhar Kumar and Gopalganj junior engineer Vikas Kumar.The WRD note on the review of their performance said an extraordinary flood situation had occurred due to unprecedentedly heavy rains in the catchment areas of the river Gandak in Nepal, but the engineers concerned against whom action was ordered were found guilty of non-performance of duty.A high-level team of engineers sent from the state headquarters conducted a quick inspection and assessment of damaged embankments and vulnerable points, following which it also prepared a slew of emergency action plans. However, some local engineers showed flagrant neglect of duty and delayed taking prompt action at damaged spots and locations on the embankments.
