The sangh submitted a memorandum to Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal a few days back, demanding that the deputy engineer be given the opportunity to hold the post. The sangh is also not averse to the idea of restructuring the departments and responsibilities of work if the administration accepted its demand.

The civic engineers fear that appointment of any `outsider' would set a wrong precedent and block their promotion prospects.

The city improvement committee discussed the issue at a recent meeting and urged the commissioner to take a final decision after holding talks with the sangh.

The differences between top civic officials have delayed the final decision. The sangh feels that water supply department should be split into two -- planning and maintenance. And that both the responsibilities be given to the engineers.

Civic sources said city engineer Madhav Harihar has suggested that he be given the responsibility of planning while the work of building permission should be handled by the additional city engineer. Deputy engineer Vijay Keskar is reportedly reluctant to give up his present work of city responsibility. Top civic officials maintain that the municipal commissioner has already decided to give six months to the present additional city engineer, V.G. Dhadphale. The final decision would be taken only after reviewing the performance of Dhadphale, the sources said.

The municipal commissioner had requested the State Government for an officer for the post of additional city engineer after all the deputy engineers declined to hold the post after the retirement of Ramesh Ghodke.