Rt to Service bill to be presented in Bihar houses

Patna, Feb 19 (PTI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar todayannounced that the Right to Service bill would be introducedin two houses in Bihar during the coming budget sessionbeginning from February 22.

Kumar gave a direction to the effect after holding ahigh-level meeting with the officials of GeneralAdministration Department (GAD) this afternoon and gave adirection to this effect.

Later, GAD prinicpal secretary Dipak Kumar said thedraft of the bill was almost ready. "It (the bill) is a partof the ongoing exercise to ensure good governance and weed outcorruption in making available public-oriented services."

Chief Minister also held a high-level meeting withtop officials of the state agriculture and food departmentswherein it was decided to strengthen the system ofprocurement and storage of foodgrains for food securityschemes.

Emerging from it, Kumar said his government was firm inits resolve to ensure implementation of the provisions offood security in the state.

A committee would be set up under the chairmanship ofChief Secretary Anup Mukherjee for the purpose, he said.

The meeting also discussed views expressed by NationalAdvisory Council on the proposed Food Security Bill to bebrought by the Centre. Kumar directed the authoritiesconcerned to undertake at thorough review and send appropriatecomments to the centre.

In another meeting with state flood control board andstate Water Resources department officials, Kumar directedauthorities to constantly review progress of schemes relatingto linking of rivers in the state.