Chandigarh, March 6: Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that Zila Parishads should get the work done with honesty and transparency and there will be no shortage of funds for development works. He further asked the Zila Parishads to make better plans for the beautification of every district, so that citizens can get maximum benefits.
The Chief Minister was presiding over the state-level meeting organized here today with District Project Managers (DPMs), chairmen, Zila Parishads and chief executive officers regarding empowerment, increase in funds and work of Zila Parishads. Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli was also present in the meeting.
Government will further strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions
The Chief Minister said that the state government will further strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). “For this, PRIs have been given more rights. All Zila Parishads should get their separate office buildings constructed in each district. A separate engineering wing has been constituted in Zila Parishads and they would be empowered on the lines of Karnataka; having their own budget of crores of rupees and would be able to take independent decisions,” he added.
He said that the buildings of Zila Parishads are under construction in two districts and the construction work of buildings in two other districts will be started soon. The Chief Minister directed the chief executive officers to complete the task of selecting the land for the six district buildings at the earliest. A budget of Rs 110 crore has been allotted to Zila Parishads and more budget will be allotted in the next financial year, added Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister said that Zila Parishads should carry out works like constructing bus queue shelters and e-libraries. “Apart from this, under the Shiv-Dham Yojana, the Zila Parishads should get the works of roads, boundary walls, sheds and drinking water done. Also, works of installation of street lights in five villages with high population in each block, repairing Primary Health Centres and schools in rural areas and making 5 Karam roads metalled (pucca) should be done by the Zila Parishads,” he added.
Special emphasis on cleanliness in villages
The Chief Minister said that along with the construction work of Anganwadi centres and their maintenance, the Zila Parishads should monitor the mid-day meal scheme and give feedback. “The process of door-to-door garbage collection should also be started soon for the cleanliness campaign. For this, by taking the cooperation of all the citizens, the Zila Parishads should ensure that separate disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste is done under the Solid Waste Management Scheme,” he said, adding that special emphasis should be laid on cleanliness in the villages.
He said that the meetings of the chief executive officers will be held in the next month and the chairmen of Zila Parishads in the next three months; in which suggestions will also be taken.
Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Anil Malik, Principal Secretary, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Chief Administrator, Marketing Board, Sh. Mukesh Ahuja, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Smt. Amneet P Kumar, Director General, Development and Panchayats, Sh. Sanjay Joon, along with other senior officers were present in the meeting.