VARANASI, Sept. 15 -- A day after urban development and energy minister AK Sharma expressed deep displeasure over waterlogging in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh government on Monday suspended executive engineer Pawan Kumar Gupta in the construction division (electrical/mechanical) of the UP Jal Nigam (Urban), Varanasi. Along with the suspension, a disciplinary inquiry has also been initiated against Gupta under Rule 7 of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. The chief engineer (procurement), UP Jal Nigam (Urban), Lucknow, has been appointed as the ex-officio inquiry officer, said a communique. During the suspension period, Pawan Kumar Gupta will remain attached to the office of the chief engineer (Kanpur Zone), Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (urban), Kanpur. He will be entitled to a subsistence allowance in accordance with the rules during the suspension period, added the communique. During Sharma's visit to Varanasi on September 12 and 13, during which he clearly stated that negligence at any level regarding public issues like waterlogging would not be tolerated. He had directed officials to effectively monitor all pumping stations and drains for water drainage and to ensure immediate corrective action wherever any deficiency or negligence was observed. Prima facie, it has come to light that Pawan Kumar Gupta failed to prepare an action plan, including cost estimates, for installing the necessary gates or barriers at the Chaukaghat Sewage Pumping Station to prevent river backflow, nor did he take the requisite action in compliance with directives issued by senior officials. Furthermore, the pumps at the Chaukaghat Sewage Pumping Station and the Goitha STP remained shut on September 3 and 4, 2026. The failure to operate the pumps in a timely manner during heavy rainfall caused excessive load on the sewer lines and led to waterlogging in the city's low-lying areas, causing hardship and inconvenience to the general public. Such negligence has also tarnished the department's image. During the visit, Sharma inspected a locality in Varanasi which had waterlogging. Sharma made it clear that the general public should not face any inconvenience due to waterlogging and that negligent officials would be held accountable. As a result, the government has taken strict action following the discovery of serious negligence regarding the operation of pumps at the Chaukaghat Sewage Pumping Station and the Goitha STP....