Dept denies workplace pressure; conflicting narratives emerge as past incidents resurface
PANAJI
Six days after the death of Aziz Shah, a junior engineer with the Water Resources Department who died by suicide, the question of why he took his life remains unanswered, even as officials have firmly rejected claims that workplace pressure played a role.
On the morning of April 10 in Sattari, Shah, who was nearing retirement, returned to work after a spell of leave and began his day as usual. WRD sources told The Goan that he signed the attendance register at the Valpoi office and left with his team for an inspection at a bridge near Padeli. Moments later, he allegedly leapt from the bridge without warning.
As per preliminary reports with the police, those who were with him that morning stated nothing appeared amiss. “Shah spoke normally, even taking two phone calls during the drive without any worries. At the site, he instructed a subordinate to count pipes on the bridge. Then, in a sudden and unanticipated move, he stopped the vehicle, stepped out, left his phone on the bridge, and leapt,” the source said. “It was at the spur of the moment. Nobody understood what was happening.”
The shock has been compounded by the absence of an immediate explanation. As Shah’s family struggles to come to terms with the loss, the police said they would return next week to record their statements.
Within the department, the incident has reopened an uneasy conversation – one that officials and engineers narrated in markedly different tones.
A senior WRD engineer, speaking to The Goan, rejected claims that work-related pressure had played a role, stating the deceased had raised no grievance, either verbally or in writing. “There was no work pressure. His work station has adequate staff. We are not aware of any professional issues that could have led to this,” the officer said, adding that any personal factors would have to be examined separately.
Yet some within the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged a complex working environment, pointing to pressure linked to project execution, billing processes, and outside interference in decision-making. Among the concerns cited were alleged certification of incomplete works, manipulation of tenders, the splitting of projects to bypass approvals, and influence from political offices in the awarding of contracts and processing of payments.
The case has also revived memories of earlier deaths within the department. On January 14, 2023, a 59-year-old office attendant, Jaiwant Naik, was found dead by suicide inside the WRD’s Fatorda office, hanging from a ceiling fan. Nearly a decade earlier, on September 27, 2014, Kiran Godbole, an assistant engineer, was found hanging in his office in Margao. At the time, police said no formal complaint was filed, though colleagues indicated he had been undergoing treatment for depression. His death drew attention after reports of a conversation with a local legislator over delays in a public works project.
Some engineers have pointed to Sattari, Tiswadi, Bardez, Bicholim, and Pernem as among the areas where operational strain is most acutely felt.
The department said it will review broader concerns if they emerge, while maintaining that no direct link between workplace pressure and Shah’s death has been established. WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar was not available for comment despite repeated calls from The Goan.
