Jaipur, Oct 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday held a dialogue at the Chief Minister’s residence with newly elected Mayors, Chairpersons, Presidents and other representatives of urban local bodies on a 100-day roadmap for city development and civic administration.
The Chief Minister directed that all works related to cleanliness, roads, electricity, street lighting, sewerage, drains, painting and beautification be completed within one month, before Diwali.
Emphasising the need for planned urban development and improved civic amenities, Sharma directed officials and public representatives to focus on sanitation, waste collection and disposal, roads, waterlogging, street lighting, beautification, park maintenance, the stray animal menace, encroachments and sewerage systems.
He called for these issues to be resolved promptly at the local level and urged urban local bodies to work towards transforming the face of Rajasthan’s cities within 100 days.
The Chief Minister directed heads of urban local bodies to regularly visit their respective areas, assess local conditions, coordinate with officials, verify the quality of development works and ensure their timely completion.
He emphasised that development should not remain confined to planning and paperwork and that its benefits must reach ordinary citizens.
Holding a position in an urban local body, he said, is not merely an office but a mission of public service.
Public representatives must work with sensitivity and responsiveness towards the problems faced by residents.
Sharma said elected heads of urban local bodies must work to meet public aspirations through planned urban development, dedication and integrity.
Since people have elected urban governments for development, visible improvements should be evident on the ground.
He urged the heads of urban bodies to lay the foundation for schemes and projects in their respective areas that establish new benchmarks in urban development.
The Chief Minister said urban local bodies are responsible not only for providing basic civic amenities but also for playing a key role in shaping the development and future of cities.
Issuing directions on financial management, he urged urban local bodies to strengthen their financial position and increase their revenue.
He also called upon their heads to ensure transparency, accountability and integrity in governance, while adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
Sharma urged councillors to rise above ward-specific considerations and work with a collective vision for the development of the entire city.
He emphasised that planning for roads, sewerage and other civic amenities should be based on the needs of the city as a whole rather than being confined to individual wards.
He also stressed the need for phased development plans for urban local bodies.
The Chief Minister said that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has undertaken several major initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission, to transform cities into modern and convenient urban centres.
He said these initiatives are promoting models of urban development that integrate technology with citizen-centric amenities.
Sharma said the state government is providing financial support to needy families in urban areas by offering 125 days of employment as unskilled labourers.
At the same time, Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) are being established, while free de-sludging services are being provided across 188 urban local bodies.
He said a ‘Developed Ward Campaign’ has also been launched to promote planned development across cities.
The objective, he said, is to transform Rajasthan’s cities into world-class urban centres by providing better facilities and services, and the state government will extend full support to urban local bodies in this endeavour.
Urban Development and Local Self-Government Minister (Independent Charge) Jhabar Singh Kharra, Mayors of Municipal Corporations, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and officials from the concerned departments were present at the meeting.
Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, Deputy Chairpersons, Presidents and Vice-Presidents of urban local bodies participated in the meeting through video conference.
Source: IANS
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