SILIGURI, May 20 : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday chaired a lengthy administrative meeting during his North Bengal visit, discussing several important issues concerning law and order, monsoon preparedness, anti-corruption measures and regional development.
Senior administrative officials from five districts, representatives of various government departments and other stakeholders attended the meeting at the North Bengal secretariat Uttarkanya.
The Chief Minister directed the administration to remain highly alert on issues related to law and order. With the monsoon approaching, officials of the irrigation department and disaster management authorities were also instructed to stay prepared in view of possible flood-like situations in North Bengal.
Sources said the recent experiences of flash floods in Sikkim, along with heavy rainfall in the Sikkim-Bhutan and Terai-Dooars regions in recent years, were taken into consideration during the discussions.
The meeting also reportedly focused on past incidents of alleged attacks on BJP leaders and workers. The Chief Minister instructed officials to reopen and review files related to several politically sensitive incidents, including the alleged attack on the MP of North Malda during a visit to flood-affected areas in the Dooars and the controversial police firing incident in Kaliaganj in which a political worker was killed after police allegedly entered a house late at night.
Corruption allegations in various civic bodies also figured prominently in the discussions. The Chief Minister directed authorities to initiate an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. He reportedly said that complaints from stakeholders as well as ordinary citizens would be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
The functioning of municipalities currently being run by administrators also came under review. Discussions were further held regarding alleged corruption in the GTA.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista later said he would soon meet the Chief Minister in Kolkata to discuss the present condition of the GTA and explore concrete developmental measures for the Darjeeling hills.
The Chief Minister also spoke strongly against the alleged “cut-money” and extortion culture that, according to BJP leaders, had affected governance and public welfare projects in the past.
Administrative officials were asked to take effective measures to improve state revenue collection. During the meeting, an example was reportedly cited regarding sand mining revenue collection in Birbhum, where revenue earnings were said to have increased significantly under the present administration.
Earlier in the day, after arriving at Bagdogra from Kolkata, the Chief Minister visited the BJP party office and attended a felicitation programme with party workers. Addressing party supporters there, he said the people of North Bengal had played a major role in bringing the BJP to power in the state and that the government now had a responsibility to repay that trust through development.
He further announced that he would visit North Bengal at least once every month. The Chief Minister also instructed the North Bengal Development Department to take a more proactive role in developmental activities across the region.
According to sources, North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik has also been asked to regularly visit district party offices to assess local developmental requirements and coordinate necessary action. (UNI)
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