The Local Government Department has big achievements to its credit in the year 2015. The focus of all the major projects initiated and completed by the department was the better management of the Urban Local Bodies to deliver all the basic civil amenities to the citizen. Some of the ambitious projects commenced and completed by the Local Government Department in this include the completion of state of the art Municipal Bhawan at cost of Rs. 38 crore in sector 35. This Bhawan which is equipped with ultra modern facilities, all branches of LG, PMIDC, Town planning offices have been converged under one roof. Bhawan is slated to be inaugurated in first month of 2016.
Under the Union Government’s Smart City scheme, the state of Punjab has submitted proposal for Amritsar, Jalandhar & Ludhiana to develop them as the Smart Cities. The proposal has been submitted to the MOUD. Likewise 16 cities have been finalised under AMRUT scheme.The department has taken a major step forward to provide the safety cover to the cities against the incident of fire. In this direction the LG department has ordered 96 new fire tenders which would be stationed strategically at the all the major towns of the state to cover whole of the state in the event of any eventuality. Fire tenders would be purchased incurring cost of Rs.46 crore. On the other hand to strengthen the fire brigade cell of all ULBs around 150 additional posts of Firemen & Drivers have been sanctioned by the LG department.
The Local Government Department also took pride in executing Swachh Bharat Mission by all ULBs with religious zeal and missionary spirit. By the end of October 2019 Rs.382.66 crore has been spent under Swachh Bharat. The target of the construction of 1, 96,000 personal toilets by the end of 2019 has been fixed and this year alone construction of 65,000 personal toilets has been completed.For the welfare of the workforce the LG department has rolled out various schemes. Prominent to worth mention here is the insurance cover of Rs. 10 Lac provided to each Safai Sewak. Creation of MC welfare fund for class IV employee and sewer men. On the other hand record numbers of employees were promoted through DPCs. The department has also launched 1% Municipal Welfare fund scheme for the benefit of employees.
In the year 2015 the LG Department has also initiated a massive recruitment drive, written test result for filling up 682 posts in the departments is finalised and the process of selection and issuing of appointment letters to the successful candidates is underway. Similarly creation of 700 new additional posts in the town planning cell has been approved with the motive to strengthen and improve the working of the cell.The department also took big strides to curb the corruption by the strengthening of Vigilance Cell. Minister has took resolve to check the corruption by all means and by adopting zero tolerance towards the corrupt employees. To provide a platform to the citizen against corruption single Toll free number for complaints relating to all ULBs in the state has already been launched.
This year the department distributed Rs. 1084 crore to the ULBs for the various development works whereas Rs.23 crore got released from Central Schemes for SUDA. On the other hand Rs.17 crore received as MDF for development works.Another important project where the department has achieved remarkable progress include Solid waste management project. Water Meter policy which has been launched to give big relief to the residents of the state. Policy for Poles/Masts etc. by Telecom Companies has also been implemented. Quality control compendium and Standard Operating Procedure was launched for development works to be undertaken by all ULBs. Old cinema houses were allowed to be converted into multiplexes.The LG department has also received two instalments of 233 crore from the 14th Finance Commission for the development work of ULBs.