Nagpur collector bars officials from taking leave without permission amid drought

Faced with drought-like conditions in Nagpur, the district collector has issued strict instructions to all district and taluka level officers and staff of the revenue, agriculture, rural development, land records, Mahavitaran, animal husbandry, water resources and soil and water conservation departments.

As per the order, all officers and staff of these departments must remain present at their headquarters at all times and must give top priority to drought relief work, crop inspection, loan restructuring and helping farmers.

The collector has also made clear that until the drought-like situation ends, no officer or staff member of these departments will be granted leave without prior permission from the collector and the District Disaster Management Authority. However, urgent personal medical leave has been kept outside this restriction.

With drought-like conditions setting in, the government is set to implement loan waivers, distribution of seeds and fertilisers, restructuring of crop loans and various economic relief schemes. To keep the administrative machinery alert and responsive, provisions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 have been invoked in the state, and it is under these provisions that the Nagpur collector has issued this order for the concerned departments.

The order also states that action will be taken against any district or taluka level officer who goes on leave without the collector's prior permission, extends their own leave, or is found absent from headquarters. Such officers will face action under the provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979.

The order further notes that drought falls under a notified disaster category, and officers found negligent in duty, in violation of the order, or obstructing disaster relief work will face immediate cognizable, punitive and criminal action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.