CM Dhami orders statewide pothole-free roads, warns of surprise inspections after Oct 15
Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday directed officials to ensure that roads across Uttarakhand are made pothole-free at the earliest, while announcing that he could undertake surprise inspections by road anytime after October 15 to assess the quality of repair and construction works.
Reviewing a range of public-interest issues at the Secretariat, Dhami instructed officials to expedite the repair and improvement of roads damaged during the monsoon. He also directed district magistrates to regularly review the condition of roads in their respective districts and ensure effective monitoring of the work being carried out by concerned departments and executing agencies.
The chief minister stressed that quality should not be compromised in road construction and repair works. He said officials should ensure that repairs are durable and that public money is utilised effectively.
Dhami’s warning of surprise inspections is expected to put additional focus on road maintenance across the state, particularly after the monsoon when several stretches are affected by heavy rainfall, landslides and waterlogging.
Focus on Char Dham arrangements
The chief minister also reviewed arrangements for the ongoing Char Dham Yatra and directed officials to maintain all facilities associated with the pilgrimage at an optimal level.
He said the safety and convenience of pilgrims must remain the top priority. District administrations and departments concerned were asked to regularly monitor traffic management, healthcare facilities, drinking water, sanitation and other essential services along the pilgrimage routes.
Dhami directed district magistrates and concerned departments to maintain close coordination and ensure that arrangements remain smooth throughout the yatra period.
Third phase of ‘Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar’
Reviewing preparations for the third phase of the ‘Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar, Jan-Jan Ke Dwar’ campaign, Dhami called for greater effectiveness in the outreach programme.
He directed officials to ensure that maximum people benefit from government schemes and public services through the camps being organised under the campaign. Wherever possible, he said, public grievances should be resolved on the spot rather than requiring people to make repeated visits to government offices.
According to the chief minister, the basic objective of the campaign is to bring governance and administration closer to citizens and ensure faster resolution of their problems.
He asked officials to focus not merely on organising camps but on ensuring that the camps result in tangible benefits for the people.
‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ to focus on public participation
Dhami also reviewed preparations for the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and directed officials to ensure effective implementation of all proposed programmes.
He said public service, public participation and public welfare should remain at the centre of the campaign and that maximum people should be connected with government schemes and services.
Officials were also asked to ensure wide public participation in the programmes proposed under the campaign so that the benefits of government initiatives reach people at the grassroots level.
Districts asked to step up surveillance of infectious diseases
With the changing weather conditions and concerns related to infectious and water-borne diseases, the chief minister directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements to prevent diseases including swine flu.
He asked district magistrates to conduct periodic inspections of hospitals and review the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies and sanitation facilities.
The health department and district administrations were directed to work in close coordination for prevention, treatment and effective control of infectious and water-borne diseases.
Dhami also emphasised the need for regular monitoring of the situation so that any emerging health concern can be identified and addressed promptly.
Senior officials attend meeting
Principal Secretary R K Sudhanshu, L Phanai and Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagauli, Director General of Police Deepam Seth, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) Kapil Lal, other secretaries and heads of departments attended the meeting.
All district magistrates participated in the review meeting through video conferencing.
The chief minister’s directions covered road infrastructure, pilgrimage management, public grievance redressal, implementation of government welfare programmes and disease prevention, with an emphasis on field-level monitoring, inter-departmental coordination and timely delivery of services.