In poll mode, Cong govt steps up efforts to expedite works

Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 22

Following feedback from party legislators in the recently concluded pre-budget meetings about poor pace of development works, courtesy the bureaucracy, the Congress government has stepped up efforts to expedite the works.

It has asked its ministers to lay the foundation stones of projects on the eve of the Republic Day across the state.

The legislators had also sought the active involvement in loan waiver schemes and development works in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. A decision to involve them in such affairs has already been taken.

On the basis of feedback about disconnect between the MLAs and government agencies undertaking the works, several steps are being undertaken in the coming days.

In today’s meeting of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh with deputy commissioners, the officers have been handed over a list of works which are complete and yet to be inaugurated and those where foundation stones are to be laid. The government has short-listed such projects in 14 districts.

While the CM would be in Patiala to preside over the Republic Day function, ministers going for functions in 13 other districts have been asked to undertake inaugurals or foundation stone laying ceremonies a day or two prior to the Republic Day.

Among the projects short-listed include the BRTS project in Amritsar, inauguration of a project to convert 100 schools into smart schools in Gurdaspur, road upgrading projects in Jalandhar and widening of Garshankar-Anandpur Sahib road in Nawanshahr and opening of a flyover in Ludhiana.

Loan waiver event deferred

The state-level function of the Chief Minister to launch loan waiver scheme for small farmers at Mehraj in Bathinda has been rescheduled to January 27 or January 28 due to inclement weather. Another state-level function on the loan waiver has been planned at Ropar.

Respect elected representatives, DCs told

• Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday made it clear that respect for elected representatives needs to be ensured. He directed the Deputy Commissioners to extend due courtesy and regard to all elected persons, be it MLAs or sarpanches. 
• In a meeting with DCs, he told them to strengthen their public interface to deliver on the promises of his government.
• The issue of misuse of buprenorphine tablets by unscrupulous elements was also discussed.