Ban on leave of government employees in Uttarakhand, order issued

The Government of Uttarakhand has banned the holidays of government employees. In fact, this ban has been imposed with a view to ensure that there is no disruption in the relief and rescue operations due to natural calamities during the monsoon period. An order in this regard has been issued by the Chief Secretary of the State Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

According to the order, some districts are highly affected due to natural calamities like heavy rains, floods, landslides, cloudbursts during the monsoon period, which disrupts normal life in the state. In this order issued to the heads of all the departments and district magistrates, it has been said that some officers and employees get long leave from their superior officers, which creates disruption in the rescue and relief operations in the event of a disaster.

Sandhu said that the leave of officers and employees should not be sanctioned except under unavoidable circumstances till the monsoon period i.e. 30th September and in case the leave is sanctioned, it should be ensured that someone else is posted in place of that officer or employee. 

Taking cognizance of the matter, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given several instructions to the officials as part of the state's preparedness. Describing the next three months as important from the point of view of possible disasters, Dhami has asked the district magistrates to take most of the decisions at their level. Every year, especially during monsoon, Uttarakhand has to face huge loss of life and property due to natural calamities.