A significant meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council's petition committee was convened in Varanasi on Friday, focusing on accelerating development works and addressing public grievances across the holy city.
Key Discussions and Departmental Reviews
The session, held at the circuit house auditorium under the acting chairmanship of Ashok Agrawal, involved a thorough review of 18 separate cases. Detailed discussions centered on the current status of public interest matters raised by Legislative Council members concerning seven major departments of Varanasi: public works department, irrigation, panchayati raj, energy, rural development, municipal corporation, and housing development.
Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal provided comprehensive information to the committee regarding various municipal projects, including construction activities, interlocking works, the construction and quality of outdoor gyms, and park beautification initiatives.
Directives and Dissatisfaction Expressed
The committee issued several important directives during the meeting. Chairman Agrawal instructed that the names of Legislative Council members must be mentioned during foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies of development works, ensuring proper recognition.
Expressing particular dissatisfaction, the committee highlighted the inadequate response concerning CC road and drain construction works in village Wajidpur, Harhua. Additionally, Legislative Council member Rai Dharmendra Singh demanded an investigation into the quality of development works and road construction under the district panchayat office.
Inter-Departmental Coordination and Follow-up
Emphasizing the need for better governance, the committee directed concerned officials to establish effective inter-departmental coordination on all matters. Chairman Agrawal stated that matters requiring government-level intervention should be promptly referred to higher authorities with regular follow-up to ensure quick disposal of cases.
The chairman specifically asked the superintending engineer of the electricity department to propose electrification for remaining hamlets based on suggestions from public representatives and ensure wide publicity of the scheme.
Regarding pending matters, the committee directed District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal, and Chief Development Officer Prakhar Kumar to provide photographs and clear reports related to case disposals. The chairman emphasized that cases remaining unresolved after the meeting should be addressed immediately with the committee kept informed.
The committee also tasked the District Magistrate with conducting a joint survey with the housing and development board regarding freeing farmers' land in villages Akhari, Rampur, and Lathiya, requesting a detailed report on land availability.
The meeting saw participation from petition committee members including Arun Pathak, Mukul Yadav, Umesh Kumar Dwivedi, Shyam Narayan Singh 'Vineet Singh', Ashutosh Sinha, Hansraj Vishwakarma, and Rai Dharmendra Singh, alongside senior officials from various departments.
