Gov. praises UP govt's achievements on law and order

Lucknow, Jan 18: Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar, who had made several remarks on crime situation in the state in the recent past, today hailed the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Government for its achievements on the law and order front.

The governor in his joint address to both Houses of the state legislature, said there had been a positive decline in the incidents of dacoity, kidnapping for ransom, road hold-ups and rioting in the state.

''The killing of dacoit leaders, who carried a prize on their head, was among the important achievements of the government.''he said.

Talking about the Nithari killings, Mr Rajeswar said, the wounds inflicted on the humanity cannot be healed easily but the Mulayam Singh government had been sensitive towards the victims' families.

''The government not only extended financial assistance to the bereaved families but also granted piece of land to make them the permanent residents to the area, '' he said.

The Government also worked to create communal harmony in the state and due to its efforts, the naxalite activities were also reduced to zero, he said, adding that terrorism was suppressed because of its actions.

''Rising above religion, caste and class while adhering to democratic traditions, the Government strived with honesty for all-round development and took the state towards expeditious development,'' Mr Rajeswar said.

He also complimented the Mulayam Singh Government for taking steps for police reforms and having appointed a commission under the chairmanship of a former Chief Secretary.

The address of the Governor was interrupted by the opposition and he just could read out only the first and the last line of it.

Highlighting the state government's efforts for achieving ''financial discipline'', the Governor said, not only additional financial resources were created during the last three years, but arrangements were also made for their timely expenditure. During the year 2002-03, the state plan size was only Rs 7250 crore whereas during 2006-07, it was increased to Rs 19000 crore, he said.

The capital expenditure, during 2004-05 was Rs 5563 crore which would increase to Rs 14093 crore in the current financial year, he said.

Dealing with the issue of farmers' interest, the government ensured a record payment of about Rs 1789 crore to sugarcane growers, the Governor said.

Incidentally, this was the issue on which the RLD withdrew support from the Government.

It was for the first time, that the state government had opened up opportunities for sugarcane farmers to increase their income besides having increased the cane purchase price, he said.

Praising unemployment allowance of Rs 500 per month and ''Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojana'', he said, Rs 20,000 to each girl of poor families, who had passed class 12th was a scheme being appreciated by all.

The Governor said that as many as 361 bridges had been constructed in the state in a short span of just three years, while roads of 24,000 Km in length would be renovated besides maintenance work of various roads of more than 1.27 lakh km would be taken up by the PWD this year.

He also lauded Government's endeavors to ensure benefit of modern medicine and health facilities to every region of the state.

'' The Government initiated attractive and practical policies because of which the state has got highest investment proposals of Rs 82,000 crore, a record in itself,'' he said.

Mr Rajeswar said six cities--Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Allahabad and Varanasi--having been declared as metro cities, the urban development would see new heights here.

''In fact, the UP is the only state where simultaneously six cities have been declared metro cities.

He asked the state legislature to rise above the party lines to cooperate with the Government and UP not only the 'Uttam Pradesh'' (better state) but the ''Sarvottam Pradesh'' (best state).

UNI