CM directs to complete developmental schemes in stipulated time - Shimla Now

Chief Minister, Sh Virbhadra Singh said that all the developmental schemes like Irrigation and Public Health (IPH), Public Works Department (PWD) or Electricity department should be completed in a time bound manner. Citing few experiences of Chopal area in allotting tenders to more than one contractor for few IPH schemes, he said that action would be taken against those officers who would allot the work of any such single scheme to more than one contractor. He was presiding over the Review meeting of 20 Point Programme at Bachat Bhawan in Shimla today. Expressing concern over the delay in execution of major works being implemented in the district the Chief Minister asked the officers of IPH, PWD and Electricity Board to debar and blacklist the contractors for five years who fail to start the work for a longer period after allotment of tenders to them. He said that such contractors won’t be eligible and would not be allowed to participate in the tender process for a period of not less than five years. He said that all the illegal water connections be disconnected and the officers to report the same within five days. Seeking status of the water supply schemes in Chopal Constituency, Chief Minister asked the department to complete all the schemes soon. The Chief Minister said that wherever the amount had been sanctioned for construction of toilets in the schools, the construction work should be completed within two months in all such schools. “Toilets should be constructed in all schools right from Primary to Senior Secondary Schools throughout the State”, said he.

“I don’t want a single school in the State to be without toilets and the education department should construct the toilets in all schools of the State by the end of this fiscal on priority”, said the Chief Minister adding that the quality of the construction should be ensured and separate toilets to be constructed for boys and Girls in the School.

Essential steps would be taken to expedite the work on the Channelisation of the Pabbar River and directed the officers concerned to put up the Detailed Project Report after completing necessary formalities pending with Central Water and Power Management. He said that the process of channelization of the Pabbar River may be taken up as soon as possible. The Chief Minister exhorted the people to participate voluntarily in the afforestation drive so as to increase the forest cover in the State. He said that our forests should be conserved at all costs, adding that the target should be to plant double the trees than those which were grounded due to natural reasons or otherwise so as to maintain the nature’s balance. He urged for planting the broad leave plants and other such species so that it fulfills the need of food, fodder and fuel. He also stressed the need for maintenance of common forest paths. The Chief Minister also directed to remove the encroachments on the forest lands throughout the State. The Chief Minister asked to complete the works on the ongoing roads in the district on priority and maintenance works be under taken simultaneously. “The People should also co-operate in construction of the roads in their area and voluntarily donate land for construction of the roads” he added. He said that the remaining left out road construction work in the remote Dhar Chanana Panchayat in Chopal be undertaken afresh. The Chief Minister said that issue of land be solved for construction of Samoli bypass in Rohru in Shimla district so as to facilitate the people. The widening work of Rohru- Chargaon road should be taken up on priority and the road to Dodra from Chargaon onwards be metalled, said he. He directed to improve Nahar-Tikkar-Baghi-Narkanda road for smooth flow of vehicular traffic. He also directed the officers for taking up the issue of Forest Clearance for roads. The Chief Minister directed the officers of the Electricity department to replace the poles and if there was any shortage of funds, the estimate be submitted to the Government so that adequate measures may be taken. He also asked to replace electric poles and repair the transmission lines/wires from Neerath to Kharang. He asked for disciplinary action against those who didn’t re-store the electricity meters despite the payments of the Bills, in the Sunni area of the district. A separate feeder of electricity would also be provided from Chabba soon for solving the low voltage problems of the area, said he. The Chief Minister also invited suggestions from the Panchayat Representatives and directed the officers to complete all the ongoing projects in the district within a stipulated time-period and warned of disciplinary action for delay in execution of schemes. Taking cognizance of the complaints regarding LPG re-fills, their delay in delivery in far-flung areas of Shimla district and their less weight, the Chief Minister directed the Indian Oil officers to take appropriate steps in this direction. Later while addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said “I assure you that all the pending development works would be completed soon and the grievances redressed accordingly”. He said that this meeting of 20-Point Programme should be held at-least twice a year so that problems of the people could be taken up and solved at the earliest. He said that the Government was committed for the welfare of the people. Today the State was making rapid progress in every field besides in agriculture and horticulture sector. Earlier our economy was dependant on potatoes but as on today, the off season vegetables and shifting of cropping pattern had improved the economy and livelihood of the people. The Chief Minister said that Roads, Health, Education, Forests & its conservation of forests was priority of our Government. He said that around 95 thousand trees were used to be grounded for making the apple boxes earlier and many trees were used to be chopped off illegally under the garb of this. The Government took a strong decision to use corrugated apple boxes so that our forest wealth could be preserved. He cautioned to be aware of those who divide the people of the State on the basis of caste, region and religion and for their own political mileage. He said that there was need to strengthen the country as well as the State. Earlier, the Chief Minster dedicated the Conference Hall named Rosan Hall, Disaster Management Call Centre, e-stamping Centre and National Land Record Sugam Centre which is a modernized Centre with facility of digitized cadastral (Musaavis) maps. Deputy Commissioner Shimla Sh Dinesh Malhotra, while welcoming the Chief Minister said that the States economy mainly rests upon the horticulture and agriculture sector and attributed the overall development of the State to the vision and stewardship of Shri Virbhadra Singh. He said that district Shimla was contributing an amount of Rs 3500 crore annually to the States Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said the State had been adjudged first in implementation of 20 Point Programme and Shimla was again adjudged as the first district for the same. He also counted the development activities undertaken in various centrally sponsored schemes being implemented in the district. He assured for completion of on going works on priority and sought further guidelines and direction from the Chief Minister.

Smt Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Shri Nand Lal and Shri Rohit Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Shri Balbir Verma, Shri Anirudh Singh, Shri Mohan Lal Bragta, MLAs, Shri Subhash Manglet, Chairman APMC, Shri Brij Lal Chairman Kailash Federation, Shri Atul Sharma Vice-Chairman, HPSIDC, Shri Harish Janartha, Vice-Chairman HPTDC, Shri KS Khachi, President District Congress Committee (Rural), Members of Zila Parishad, Pradhans of Gram Panchayats, and Panchayat Samitis and officers of various department were present on the occasion.