Dehradun, April 30:
Review meeting held to discuss the progress in various schemes initiated under grant received from 13th Finance Commission, chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Indira Hridayesh concluded at Vidhan Bhawan auditorium here today. The Minister expressed her dissatisfaction over slow pace of progress in utilization of grant amounting to Rs.700 crore.
The Minister allotting three months time to the officers asked them to be present in the next meeting with better result. She instructed the officers to prepare DPRs of proposed projects and resolve issues pertaining to lands due since long time so that the people reap immediate benefit out of these schemes. She asked the secretary level officers to attend the meeting to ensure timely completion of the projects. Expressing her discontentment over slow progress in utility of fund, she asked the officers to work with seriousness and accountability. She observed that the reason behind the slow pace was due to non-monitoring of the expenditure by capable officers. She pointed out that the grant under 13th Finance Commission was released considering special needs of the state. She asked the officers to expedite programs pertaining to medical and drinking water which were in the priority list of the state government, ensuring quality. Taking serious note of slackness in construction works of sewer lines and roads in Nainital and Dehradun, the Minister asked the officers to accelerate the works. The Finance Minister also asked the officers to get details about the progress report of land selection for new Vidhan Sabha Bhawan from the Sub Committee. She also assured to discuss the issue with the Chairman of the Sub Committee in this regard personally. Underlining the construction of international standard sports stadium at Haldwani as her top priority, the Finance Minister said there ought not be any technical inadequacy in this grand and ambitious project of Rs. 200 to 250 crore. She asked to take expertise of experienced engineers in construction of the stadium. She pointed out that owing to absence of international standard stadium in the state the sports persons did not get opportunity to showcase their talents and the people were deprived of watching international level sports events.
The Finance Minister also reviewed construction works of police stations, Chowkies, training centres with the grant of Rs. 70 crore and various other construction works. The meeting was attended by Secretary Finance Radha Raturi, Secretary Tourism SS Sandhu, Secretary Sports RC Pathak, Additional DGP SK Bhagat and Additonal Secretary Home Amit Sinha.
