Punishment for laxity in relief work: UP Chief Secretary

Lucknow, Feb 5 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Mishra today directed the Principal Secretary and others to be vigilant against the laxity in relief work at drought-hit Bundelkhand and other disaster affected areas.

While addressing a meeting here, Mr Mishra directed the officials to speed up the relief work and punish those spotted for dereliction in duty.

He said optimum use of disaster management funds should be made and all targets should be achieved by the end of this month.

Noticing the slow pace of development, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to issue notices with immediate effect against the Managing Director, water supply department and the area chief engineer to speed up the relief work.

The Chief Secretary further said he will visit the Bundelkhand region to take stock of the situation and no laxity would be entertained.

He instructed the secretaries and principle secretaries of the department concerned to keep an eye over the progress and prepare weekly assesment report.

At least Rs 40 crore had been sanctioned for Bundelkhand relief work of which 17 crore had already been spent, whereas around Rs 26 crore had been sanctioned for 20 other districts as disaster management fund.

He also directed the officials to issue notices to the departments asking them to state reason for slow progress of work.

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