Taking serious note of a complaint regarding drug peddling in Haryana’s Hisar district, Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda on Friday directed the district administration to take stringent action to curb the illegal trade and submit a detailed report at the next meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Committee (DPRGC) held in Hansi.
Committee Meeting Highlights
Dhanda on Friday was presiding over the committee’s first meeting since Hansi was carved out as a separate district. During the meeting, Bhatol Rangdan village sarpanch Devender Lamba raised concerns over the growing menace of drug abuse in the area. He alleged that drug peddlers were openly selling banned substances near school premises and claimed that despite repeated complaints to the local police, no effective action had been taken.
Lamba further pointed out that the illegal trade continued unabated even though the Hansi police had declared the village drug-free.
Police Response and Minister's Directive
Responding to the allegations, DSP Ravinder Singh informed the minister that the police had recently launched a special anti-drug drive in the region with the assistance of sniffer dog squads. During the operation, authorities seized 63 kg of contraband. Unsatisfied with the response, Dhanda instructed the police to intensify their crackdown on drug peddlers and submit a comprehensive report on the action taken.
Other Grievances Addressed
The committee heard a total of 10 grievances pertaining to various departments. Of these, seven were resolved on the spot, while the remaining three were referred to the concerned departments with directions to submit progress reports at the next meeting.
The minister directed officials to treat public grievances with utmost seriousness and ensure their resolution within a stipulated timeframe. He emphasized that complaints should be considered resolved only after obtaining written confirmation of satisfaction from the complainants.
Dhanda also instructed officials to prioritise the development of roads, streets and drainage infrastructure in residential areas to prevent waterlogging and related problems.
Infrastructure Concerns
In a separate case concerning Dhani Puriya village, residents raised issues regarding the construction of a drain and a bridge. The minister directed the Public Works Department to commence the work immediately and complete it within one month.
On a complaint filed by the gram panchayat of Ghirai village regarding a drinking water pipeline, Dhanda instructed the Public Health Engineering Department to begin work without delay to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water to residents.
