Cuttack, July 16: Several key posts at the local civic body are lying vacant at a time when the fear of waterlogging and various rain-related ailments such as dengue and malaria loom large.

At present, five of seven key administrative posts in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, including that of the deputy commissioner, secretary, slum improvement officer, statistical officer, and establishment officer are lying vacant.

The functioning of the civic body might get adversely affected as two more posts – deputy secretary and recovery officer — will fall vacant within a week.

Besides administrative posts, several posts in the local self-service category, including of head assistants and junior assistants for various clerical works are also lying vacant.

Out of the total 162 posts in the local self-service category, 72 posts, including 40 posts of junior assistants, three posts of senior assistants and three posts of head assistants are lying vacant.

“The large-scale vacancies in the civic body at senior levels have severely overburdened its commissioner, finance officer and legal officer,” said a senior official of the corporation on condition of anonymity.

Another official source said the slum improvement officer’s post had been lying vacant since suspension of Jaganarayan Kujur in October last. Kujur was placed under suspension in connection with the post-Phailin relief embezzlement controversy.

The post of deputy commissioner has been lying vacant as Manmath Biswal, who holds the chair, is on a sick leave for the last two months. The post of secretary held by Laxmidhar Nath has fallen vacant after completion of his term on June 30.

“Official work is getting affected as many files have remained pending. This will create problems for the councillors if no urgent step is taken for filling up the vacancies,” said Baideswar Panda, BJP councillor of ward No. 55.

Panda said that the work for various projects and other pension and schemes as well as the anti-poverty programmes might get affected in the days to come.

“Despite being one of the important municipal corporations, the Cuttack civic body has been neglected by the state government as no step has been taken for extension of the officers or appointment of new ones so far,” said Dharmananda Patra, Congress councillor of ward No. 37.

Municipal commissioner Gyana Das also admitted the official work was being delayed because of the existing vacancies.

“We have already sent a proposal seeking extension and posting of additional officers to maintain the proper work flow, which is still pending before the state government. We hope that fresh notification regarding extension and posting of officers will shortly be made by the urban development department,” said Das.