Anil Joshi Unveils Blue Print To Revitalisation Local Bodies In Next 6 Months
Author(s): City Air NewsChandigarh, May 10, 2015: The Punjab Local Government Minister Anil Joshi has suggest a broad bared blueprint for revitalisation of all local bodies and asked the department to come out with master plan to implement...
cityairnews
May 10, 2015 09:30
0
Chandigarh, May 10, 2015: The Punjab Local Government Minister Anil Joshi has suggest a broad bared blueprint for revitalisation of all local bodies and asked the department to come out with master plan to implement it in next 6 months.
In a detailed communiqué to secretary local government Ashok Gupta the Local Government minister said that all works need to be ensured as per SOP only. Storm sewer construction should always start from downstream upwards and no piecemeal construction of sewer/patch work should be permitted. Proper use of super sucker machines, wherever available should be ensured for desalting of large/main sewers.
He said that e-tendering has already been made mandatory for any works above Rs. 2 lakh which needs to be ensured at all levels. Stringent conditions need to be included in the contract so as to avoid change of specifications and change of scope of allotted work. This becomes more important where the contractors quote very less i.e. minus 20% or below. Such situations could be very easily overcome if the enlistment policy circulated by the department is followed in letter and spirit. Third party inspection and social audit as well as material testing of all civil works as per Government policy is required to be implemented seriously. He said that at the same time display boards for ongoing works/contractors and proper CPM chart or work programme at site are also to be ensured by all the ULBs. Testing of material and concrete should be ensured regularly for which sufficient cubes should be casted each time (10 nos. approx) so that at least 3 samples are available for tests required, if any, in future too. Escalation in costs due to inordinate delays should be avoided and the contractor should be held responsible for the same.
The Minister further said that energy efficient street lighting should be used and street switches of town should be switched on at dusk and switched off at 5 a.m. Economical running of STPs should be ensured so that minimum electrical machinery runs avoiding excessive electrical billing. He said that preventive maintenance of instruments is required to be ensured and adequate provisions for AMC need to be considered for coming 10 years. Similarly as our duty to preserve natural resources general public is required to be provided knowledge for rain water harvesting. Ramps of house owner extending beyond their gates on to the roads should be discouraged for ensuring proper alignment & symmetry of city buildings.
Joshi said that it has been observed in various field visits that footpaths on the berms have been made far away under the trees and electricity poles. At majority of points, proper drainage is not there to save roads and the workmanship of filling of grooves of expansion joints is generally not up to the mark which may not withstand the expansion/contraction of concrete panels. Grooves left in between the panels are not in straight line giving shabby look exhibiting poor quality. Cracks have developed in large areas of CC paving roads as no expansion joints have been provided in roads. Concrete work should be of proper quality.
The Minister said that all shallow tube wells less than 400 feet deep should be abandoned and in future, no shallow tube well shall be constructed in the ULBs as per the decision of National Green Tribunal. Wherever required all ULBs may invite tenders for water quality mapping and analysis based on model bid document. Updated and proper record of all the roads with their date of original construction and future repairs is required to be maintained.
He said that establishment matters e.g. improvement in provident funds management systems, reducing the cost of establishment and timely issuance of salary slips etc. needs to be given due importance. Digitisation of birth and death records should be there for providing efficient and transparent services to the citizens. Redressal of Common citizens’ grievance should be the top priority. It is desired that comprehensive directions on above points be issued to all concerned in the state so that we are able to provide efficient and transparent governance to the citizens of the state.
Date:
Sunday, May 10, 2015
