Bhopal : The Ministers grilled the officials of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department over drinking water crisis in the rural areas of the state at the Cabinet Meeting here on Friday.
PHE Minister Kusum Mehdale and Principal Secretary Ashwini Rai were also attacked over inefficient working of their department. Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava exchanged sharp words with Mehdale. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan then asked Chief Secretary Antony De Sa to review the arrangements of drinking water in rural areas.
When a matter related to PHE department was put up in the cabinet, Chauhan sought information from Rai about arrangements of drinking water in rural areas. Rai told Chauhan that adequate arrangements were being made. Chauhan reprimanded Rai and said that MLAs are complaining about PHE. He said complaints about lack of drinking water have started pouring in. Ministers namely Rajendra Shukla, Jayant Mallaiya and Lal Singh Arya told Chauhan that the condition of ‘Nal-Jal Yojana’ in rural areas was not good. They said hand pumps were not adequate and this time, rural areas may face severe shortage of drinking water in summer season.
Mehdale blaming Panchayat Department in indirectly said ‘Nal-Jal Yojana’ has been transferred to Panchayat department. She said Panchayat department is not working and we are being defamed. She said Panchayat department should transfer this work again to PHE department.
Bhargava said Panchayats don’t have technical staff to see the works of PHE and he has no problem in the transfer of these schemes. Ministers said that instant decision should be taken in this matter so that no inconvenience is faced by people in rural areas.
‘Panchayats responsible for drinking water crisis’
PHE Minister Mehdale alleged that Panchayats were responsible for the drinking water problem in villages. She claimed that Panchayats don’t pay electricity bills due to which these schemes could not continue. She said Chief Minister has also agreed on transfer of Nal-Jal Yojana to PHE department. She said she would not let villages face drinking water crisis.
Med College docs to retire at 70; VRS after 30 yrs service
BHOPAL : At a cabinet meeting here on Friday, a consensus was reached at to increase retirement age of doctors working in Department of Medical Education from 65 years to 70 years. Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development, Gopal Bhargava, during the discussion, said hands of some persons start shaking at the age of 70. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan replying to it said when he met with an accident his operation was performed at Bombay Hospital by Doctor Dholakia, who was 86 years old. He said age does not matter. It was also decided in the cabinet meeting that voluntary retirement will be given to those who complete 30 years of service than 25 years.
The cabinet decided that that doctors who were appointed on the posts of medical officer, will be eligible for senior selection grade pay scale on completing 30 years of service. Such doctors will be eligible to get Rs 37,400-67000 grade pay 8700 from July 1, 2014. Medical officers promoted on the post of specialist will be eligible to get promotion after 6 years and next level pay-scale. The cabinet also decided to raise the stipend of students pursuing post graduate courses in Govt. Autonomous Ayurvedic Colleges. They will get Rs 21,000 per month in first year, Rs 22,000 in second year and Rs 23,000 in third year.
The cabinet also decided to get MoU signed separately in connection with transfer of 5.87 acre land of Airports Authority of Indian to Directorate of Aviation. The cabinet also approved creation of 412 posts for nine Eklavya Adarsh Residential Higher Secondary Schools. The state government would bear the expenses other than the fund received by the Centre for development of infrastructure. The cabinet also decided to change the name of Horticulture Department and it would now be named as Department of Horticulture and Food Processing. State Road Safety Policy 2015 was also approved in the cabinet. Home Department was authorised for necessary changes in the policy.
Kisan Mahasammelan to figure in Guv’s address
Governor’s address to be presented in the beginning of the budget session of state Assembly would refer to the Kisan Sammelan organised at Sherpur. In the address, launching of Crop Insurance Scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be mentioned. A committee for amendment in address comprising of Ministers namely Jayant Mallaiya, Gopal Bhargava and Gaurishankar Shejwar was also formed by the cabinet.
Thumb impression for subsidised food grains
Thumb impression would be used to establish the identity of the beneficiaries of food grains sold on subsidised rates from the next financial year in the state. In case of non-functioning of the machine, the quota of the consumer would not lapse for two years. In the meeting, it was also said that strict action against laxity in distribution of wheat, rice and salt at the rate of Re.1.
