Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28: The state government’s move to abolish the post of assistant executive engineer has caused resentment among the serving degree engineers.

“The state water resources department’s plan to abolish the existing assistant executive engineer post between the entry-level post of degree engineer and the executive engineer, will mar the promotional prospects of degree engineers serving for many years,” an office-bearer of Orissa Engineers Service Association (OESA) said.

“If the posts of assistant executive engineer are abolished, around 90 per cent degree engineers, who have served for more than 20 years, will retire as assistant executive engineers, without being promoted to the executive engineer post,” he said.

“This will be defeating the very purpose of cadre restructuring. If the government is thinking about making an entry-level post for degree engineers as assistant executive engineer (junior class I), then the existing post of assistant executive engineer may be designated as deputy executive engineers,” said OESA president Prabir Pradhan. OESA leaders said that they had never demanded for the abolition of assistant executive engineer posts.

“The proposal of the water resources department has created discontentment among the serving engineers of the state,” said Pradhan.

Engineer Joy Gopal Jena said: “The engineering degree is to be considered as the qualifying criteria for engineers at management level such as executive engineer.”

OESA office bearers said chief minister Naveen Patnaik had assured them that degree engineers would be inducted as junior class I officials like that of the Orissa Administrative Service, Orissa Forest Service and Orissa Medical Service. But that was yet to be implemented

“It’s unfortunate that the state does not have a uniform policy for the recruitment of administrators and professionals,” said an engineer.