Raiganj, Sept. 28: The North Dinajpur drug control office was inaugurated by the chief secretary of the state Ardhendu Sen here today. But no one is certain that when it will start functioning because not a single employee has been recruited for the unit.

According to the deputy director of the department of drug control Biplab Dey, posts for seven employees, including a drug controller and two inspectors were sanctioned earlier this month. “We have approached the state public service commission to fill up the vacancies. But no one has arrived yet,” he said.

He added that a typist-cum-clerk from the South Dinajpur office has joined duty from today and the drug controller of that district has been asked to look after the office.

District secretary of Bengal Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association, Prasanta Kundu, said: “We have to travel to Balurghat 110km away even to renew our licences. Now that there is an office here, I shall get my work done at this office. But if nothing gets done here then we shall close the office down.”

The Congress chairperson of the Raiganj municipality Mohit Sengupta said the office had been opened with an eye on the next Assembly elections. The typist on deputation, Amal Mukherjee, said: “How do you expect me to work when there is not even a single file?”