Don’t delay payment to employees: CM

Bhopal, Mar 10: The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that serious view would be taken of any inordinate delay in payment of wages to workers engaged in drought relief works and strict action would be taken against the concerning officials. Chouhan reviewed the drought, drinking water and frost situation here today. The Minister for Revenue Kamal Patel was also present.

The Chief Minister directed for early extensive survey of drought and frost affected areas. He said that the loss to crops due to insects would also be assessed. The survey should be carried out on the spot and no negligence in this work would be tolerated. Chouhan directed that the relief amount for loss of crops due to frost should be distributed after preparing a village level Panchanama after the survey. For this a Panchanama committee should be constituted comprising Sarpanch, deputy Sarpanch, two Panchas, two other reputed residents of the village and the Panchayat secretary.

The Chief Minister said that necessary steps should be taken right now to resolve the drinking water crisis in ensuing summer season. He said that in addition to transporting water wherever necessary possibilities of sinking tube wells should also be explored in the affected areas. There should be no lethargy in sinking tube wells in potential areas. Chouhan said on identification of feasible spots for hand pumps the concerning departments should lay the pipelines for supply of drinking water. He directed the public works department to include the repair of WBM roads in relief works. He said that it should be introduced immediately in areas severely affected by drought.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the shortage of cattle fodder and directed to issue instructions to the district collectors for setting of fodder banks at minimum possible distance in areas having fodder shortage. Chouhan directed to immediately send the information sought by the Centre with regard to the memorandum given by the state government about drought. He directed to intensify the hand pump repair work and to change the state government’s rates in accordance with the rise in price of steel.