51% posts of patwari vacant, revenue work hit in Karnal

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 5

Acute shortage of patwaris is adversely affecting the working of the Revenue Department in the district. Not only work related to revenue, but also of caste verification, Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP), income certificate, area verification of Meri Fasal Mera Byora and others are badly affected.

Moreover, as per sources, the ‘girdawari’ work, which is done after every six months and now expected to start in February, will also be affected. The authorities fear due to shortage of patwaris, the work of ‘jamabandi’, which is done after every five-year, would also be affected.

As per the data, around 51 per cent posts of patwari are lying vacant in the district. There are 153 patwar circles in the district and the same posts of patwairs are sanctioned to look after around 436 villages of the district.

As many as 79 posts of patwaris out of sanctioned 153 are yet to be filled. Over 200 villages are without patwaris. Only 74 patwaris are discharging their duties. To make up for the staff shortage, the department has given additional charge of three to four patwar circles on an average to one patwari. ‘Overburdened’ patwaris want to relinquish additional charge given to them for other circles.

As a result, residents are at the receiving end and bear the brunt of the staff shortage. They have to run from pillar to post to get their work done.

“I have been making rounds of the patwari office for the past several days for verification of the caste certificate, but have to return empty handed every time as patwari does not sit in his office. I was told that he has been given additional charge of other villages,” said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Nigdhu patwar circle.

Shaym Lal, District Revenue Officer (DRO), said, “The posts of patwari are lying vacant. Additional charge has been given to patwaris so that the work of people is not affected.”

Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said, “Due to shortage of patwaris people have to suffer. We have apprised the higher authorities about the staff shortage and demanded that vacant posts are filled.”