HIMACHAL PRADESH government was in touch with the team Anna regarding the setting up of Lokayukta institution in this hill state and government was prepared to seek their suggestions for positive consideration. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal disclosed it, while talking to Merinews at Dharmshala on Tuesday morning.

 

About the appointment of New Lokayukta in Himachal Pradesh, Dhumal stated that the new Lokayukta would take oath in the state on February 3 next month at Shimla. After that lokayuktas would also be appointed in various government departments dealing with the general public, he added. He indicated that like Uttarakhand, Himachal would also have the institution of the Lokayukta that would be close to the proposals given by Team Anna to the Union Government.

 

With members of Team Anna being invited to the state, it is likely to give a political edge to the BJP government in the state against the Congress. The Congress has been targeting the BJP government on various corruption issues like alleged benami land deals.

 

The CM added that the state government had launched e-Samadhan program with a view to curtail the lengthy paperwork and communication procedure. He said that e-tendering system had also been introduced to bring about efficiency and transparency in the functioning of different departments floating tenders etc. for various developmental projects. He said that optimum utilization of the e-samadhan be taken to speed up the procedural route of communication between different departments. He said that the deputy commissioners also needed to brief the local media about various developmental activities within their jurisdiction so that people in general were aware of the ongoing developmental activities in their area.

 

Dhumal said that the district administration needed to take benefit of MNREGA for carrying restoration and maintenance works where damages had been caused due to rains and other natural calamities. He said that Mukhya Mantri Gram Path Yojna also needed to be implemented for strengthening the connectivity network in rural areas. He said that the field functionaries needed to be directed to keep district headquarter posted about the disposal of not only the references received by CM Office but other grievances posed by local people for redressal.

 

He said that the state government had adopted Essential Services Guarantee Bill to deliver people essential services in a time bound manner. He said that the village level functionaries i.e. Patwari and panchayat secretary/ panchayat sahayak to remain available for general public on the declared working days and ensure that they were delivering the desired goods to the public.