Vijayawada: The panchayat raj department should henceforth install boards displaying details of the works, the budget estimates and the quality of the works executed with the department funds in rural areas.An instruction to this effect was given by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who handles the departments of panchayat raj and rural development.He pulled up the officials for the secrecy they maintained about the works being executed by the panchayat raj department. Rules mandated the setting up of display boards in public places to inform the people about the development works in their region, he pointed out.The deputy CM chaired a review meeting with the panchayat raj and rural development, RWS and engineering department officials about the works they executed in the last five years. “Prepare comprehensive reports on the financial irregularities and diversion of funds committed by the previous government in the three departments,” he asked the officials.He asked officials to strengthen the quality section to ensure quality to the works executed by the engineering wing of the panchayat raj department.Pawan Kalyan questioned the officials whether the contractors who were not completing the works on time and not ensuring quality are being blacklisted or not. Officials must submit to him the details of how works have been allotted and bills paid to the blacklisted contractors in the state, he said.On learning that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) had offered to reimburse the funds if the previous state government had laid roads, the deputy CM expressed his surprise over the YSRC government’s “failure to utilise the loans provided by the AIIB” to construct road infrastructure in the state.Pawan Kalyan also reviewed the utilisation of funds provided by the Centre through the PMGSY, RCPWE and Pradhan Mantri Jan Jati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan schemes to the state. He asked the officials to submit a report on the pending works and the reasons thereof, pertaining to the works executed under the central government schemes.The officials were also told to submit a report on the extent of damage caused to the road infrastructure, when the last repair works were conducted on the roads, and the utilisation of funds under the panchayat raj department.Pawan Kalyan expressed concern over the non-receipt of salaries, for the past 18 months, by 129 women working as data entry operators in the engineering wing of the panchayat raj department.The Deputy CM had, earlier in the day, stopped his convoy on seeing the data entry workers standing outside his camp office and enquired about their problems. The women lamented that their salaries were due for the last 18 months. He assured them that the matter would be discussed and an appropriate action taken soon.
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