Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief secretary, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra has directed all the secretaries to submit their department’s budget input within two weeks time.
He also directed to speed up ground level activities and programme implementation in the post-unlocking scenario.
The chief secretary was discussing with secretaries in a high level discussion held digitally from Lokseba Bhawan last evening.
Mohapatra said, “Now that we are opening up many normal livelihood activities, schools, colleges and hostels; we have to be more focused on expeditious implementation of the projects amidst the covid restrictions. We have also to get ready for vaccination”.
However, Mohapatra cautioned the departments to follow the covid protocols and SOPs strictly without any compromise. Health & Family Welfare department was asked to conduct frequent health checkups in educational institutions and hostels as a preventive against any possible large breakout of the pandemic. The head of the educational institutions were asked to be in constant touch with local health workers and doctors and report them any suspect case immediately.
Additional chief secretary health and family welfare Pradeepta Kumar Mohapatra assured that the health personnel would visit the educational institutions regularly for health check up.
Further, chief secretary Mohapatra advised the senior officers to start district visits and resolve the field level implementation issues as and when they emerge. He emphasized on timely completion of the pipe drinking water supply projects, construction of pucca houses under rural housing scheme, connecting bridges and culverts, rural roads, heritage projects at Puri and Lingaraj temples, new world class campus of SCB medical college, Cuttack city beautification project, village roads, lift irrigation projects and micro-composting projects in urban areas etc.
Quick grounding of the investment projects, added Mohapatra, “needs interdepartmental coordination at field level which should be ensured seamlessly”.
It may be pertinent here to mention that at present the projects envisaging investment of around Rs.2.5 lakh cr are under different stages of implementation in the State. About 6 lakh rural housing units and 700 bridges are under construction in all 30 districts. Target has been set to create 23 cr man-days under MGNREGA for providing wage employment to various types of labors.
Emphasizing upon quick and transparent delivery of services as per 5T principles, chief secretary said that “many charted services under 5T have been made online. Departments should focus on rolling out remaining services within the stipulated time”. All weather connectivity to all villages/hamlets, internet connectivity to GP level, loans to WSHGs and priority sector lending were also brought to active agenda by Sri Mohapatra.
Development commissioner Pardeep Kumar Jena advised to speed up expenditure of budgeted money in coming three months. He also advised the departments to clear up the back logs.
Principal secretary finance Ashok Kumar Meena asked the departments to give their budget inputs in two weeks to finance department.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Raj Kumar Sharma focused on extensive integrated farming. Sri Sharma said,” Integrated farming while maximizing the land use will increase productivity in agri & allied sector and will substantially add to farmer’s income”.
Secretary Skill Development and Technical Education Sanjay Kumar Singh appraised that all Government ITIs have been reopened from 28th December and there had been no problem with regard to covid. Technical institutions and polytechnics will be opened as per the unlocking schedule.
Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Dr Mona Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary Home Sanjeeb Chopra along with Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Special Secretaries of all departments participated in the discussions.
