Govt to engage expert agencies to oversee execution of projects

Chandigarh, Aug 18 (UNI) The Punjab Government today decided to engage the services of expert agencies to oversee planning and execution of all development projects in the state.

This was announced by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today while presiding over a meeting held to review the working of Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board (PSAMB).

The move is aimed at ensuring fiscal and functional transparency and to check pilferage and corruption in government projects, especially those relating to construction activities, he said.

Expert agencies from outside the state would be engaged to oversee the preparation of technical and financial estimates in project reports of all development works in various departments.

Mr Badal directed that the system of external audit be introduced to eradicate the possibilities of corruption at all levels in the departments, especially PUDA, Irrigation Department, PIDB, Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board, PWD (B&R) and Local Government.

He ordered the state Chief Secretary to issue directions to all Deputy Commissioners against unauthorized tilling of berms of public roads in the rural areas. The Executive Engineers of PWD (B&R) and Mandi Board would be made accountable for any lapse in this regard.

The Chief Minister also ordered that Rehriwalas in Malout be allotted shopping booths in the market block constructed for the purpose. The Chief Minster regretted that although these booths were constructed by the previous SAD-BJP Government more than five years ago, the Congress Government had totally neglected the project and did not go through the normal process of allotments to the eligible Rehriwals.

He said that the previous Government also failed to give plots to dalits from the land already earmarked for the purpose by the SAD-BJP Government in 2001.

UNI