MADIKERI: With reports of political parties allegedly taking the ‘liquor route’ to woo voters, the Excise Department in the district is feeling the heat, working with a severe staff crunch.
While Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Srividya has been strict with her actions to control illegal activities in the district this election season, the Excise Department in Kodagu, with over 50% vacancy, is working under pressure to stop any election code breach.
The department is allotted 102 posts in three taluks of Kodagu. However, nearly 60 posts are lying vacant in the department, including the post of superintendent. The Excise Deputy Commissioner, Nagesh, was appointed only a week ago. While there have to be working superintendents in three taluks –Madikeri, Somwarpet and Virajpet – the job is carried out by one superintendent, leaving four posts vacant. The excise inspectors are newly appointed and a few are yet to report to work. The first rank officers’ work is managed by a single officer and there are vacancies in the fourth rank officers’ post too. While eight officers are required to fill in as head havaldars, there is just one head havaldar on duty.
With election duty in place, the department, that is short of over 50% manpower, is struggling to work under pressure. Nevertheless, Nagesh said, “We will work efficiently with the available manpower and stop illegal activities in the district.”