Water Resources Department Faces Questions Over Chief Engineer’s Expanded Charge

Brief By Newsbrief / 6:00 PM on 09 Sep 2026

Questions are mounting over the functioning of Bihar’s Minor Water Resources Department after Chief Engineer Sunil Kumar, who reportedly faced departmental findings of serious irregularities, was given additional administrative responsibilities.

According to departmental sources and available documents, an inquiry conducted between October and December 2025 allegedly found irregularities in tender procedures and work allocation. A disciplinary proceeding was reportedly proposed against Kumar, and a file seeking his suspension reached higher levels of the government. However, instead of disciplinary action, his jurisdiction was expanded.

A notification issued on July 30, 2026, reportedly assigned Kumar additional charge of Bhagalpur alongside Patna, increasing his administrative control from 12 to 25 districts.

The development has drawn further scrutiny amid recent SVU raids against executive engineers in Sasaram and Banka over alleged disproportionate assets. Questions are now being raised over accountability, administrative decisions and whether investigations will reach senior officials involved in tender and work-allocation decisions.