Ordinance to replace RTS Act approved

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 20

In a step towards winding up the Right to Service (RTS) Commission, set up by the previous SAD-BJP government, the Cabinet today gave its nod to the Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Services (including electronic service delivery), Ordinance, 2017.

Once it is approved by the Governor, the RTS Act 2011 will cease to exist. Parmod Kumar, Director, Institute for Development and Communication, the brainchild behind the RTS Act, said it was brought in to ensure accountability of civil servants. “It will not make much qualitative difference if the commission is being replaced with a viable structure to take suo motu notice of graft and public grievances,” he said.

Key features of the ordinance are computerisation of all public services, mandatory online receipt of service request and timely delivery. Other focus areas relate to inclusion of a healthy system of incentives and disincentives for the public authority and its staff, tracking of application status by applicants through mobiles or internet and faster delivery of justice.

Mobile app, e-CLU portal launched

The government has launched a mobile app to check unauthorised construction and a web portal of the Housing Department for issuance of electronic change of land use (e-CLU). The app will enable quick action to stop any ongoing illegal construction, while the web portal (pbhousing.gov.in) will facilitate easy land use change 

Directorate of Environment formed 

To check rising pollution, including that resulting from stubble-burning, the Cabinet approved the creation of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change. It will address issues related to biotechnology biodiversity, and implementation of research, recommendations of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST), besides ensuring clean, green and pollution-free environment Tenure of Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana extended up to March 31, 2018