Shimla, Sept. 28 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the recruitment of 4,852 posts in the Jal Shakti department. Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri announced the decision on Saturday, saying the proposal will now be placed before the cabinet for final approval.

Of the total, 1,726 posts of pump operators, para-pump operators and para-fitters have been sanctioned. Additionally, 4,136 positions currently outsourced will be filled directly at the departmental level, a step expected to save Rs.25 crore annually compared to the Rs.98 crore presently spent on contractors.

Other posts to be filled include 111 work inspectors, 100 junior engineers, 505 positions on compassionate grounds, and posts for hydrologists. Of the 505 c...