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Noida: Noida Authority has appealed to the state govt to hire replacements for the nine officials who were either suspended last week or are facing disciplinary action for continuing in their old posts despite being transferred.
Sources said the officials continued on their posts because they were "not formally relieved" in the absence of replacement and large-scale vacancies.Nearly 60% of the total 2,000 posts in Noida Authority are currently vacant which has affected day-to-day work and delayed the execution of projects.
One of the suspended officials, who didn't wish to be identified, told TOI that the suspensions were not linked to any allegations of corruption but were imposed while the officials were carrying out their assigned duties. "I didn't even receive the transfer letter through official channels," the official said.
In some cases, senior officials had also intervened after the transfer orders were issued with a few even reaching out to the industrial development commissioner to retain a transferee.
Of the six officials suspended in Noida Authority, two are assistant legal officers Sushil Bhati and Nardev. The others are private secretary Vijendra Pal Singh Komar, manager (architect/planning) Sumit Grover, assistant manager (architect/planning) US Farooq and accountant Pramod Kumar.
A govt order issued on June 30 last year, transferred Bhati to Greater Noida and Nardev to YEIDA. Private secretary Komar was instructed to join the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA). Farooq and Pramod Kumar were transferred to UPSIDA, while Grover was to move to YEIDA.
The govt has also ordered departmental action against Vijay Kumar Rawal, then senior manager (civil), Noida, who is currently working as DGM (civil); Satinder Giri, then manager (civil) and now senior manager; and Prem Kumar, assistant manager (architect). Rawal and Giri had ignored the transfer orders issued on June 30, 2022, while Kumar was transferred via a govt order issued in 2023.
Some of these officials facing action were overseeing ongoing projects like the skywalk project connecting sectors 51 and 52 metro stations, Noida Authority's office in Sector 96, the golf course in Sector 151-A, the redevelopment of parks in different sectors, Bhangel Elevated Road and Ganga Jal project among others.
The planning department, which is functioning with 50% of sanctioned strength, has been hard hit by the current round of action. Two of its officials — manager Komar and assistant manager Grover — have been suspended, and assistant manager Kumar is facing disciplinary action.
"Planning requires experienced officials as it involves several crucial works, including policy-making, and project map approvals. This is why the three officials were not relieved from their posts. Even after the suspension order was issued, these officials have been asked to continue on the job," a senior official said.
The official added the department's general manager, Ishtiyaq Ahmed, who retired in 2023 was recently given two extensions as the department is yet to get a replacement.
Not just in the planning department, but across the Authority several senior superannuating officials were given extensions or rehired on key positions to mitigate staff crunch.
Sources said a shortage of lekhpals and tehsildars, essential for land-related tasks, was delaying projects. Tasks that should typically take one week are now taking 15-20 days, or even up to a month, to complete, they said.
The persistent shortage, sources said, could be attributed to the larger number of officers and employees transferred out of the Authority to other districts than the number of officials transferred in.
The suspended officials, meanwhile, met with Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M on Monday arguing their suspension be revoked as they were not relieved of their duties despite being transferred. The CEO assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the state govt.
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