Minister for School Education, Environment and Freedom Fighters OP Soni, Mayor of Amritsar Karamjit Singh Rintu, Deputy Mayor Younus Kumar and officials from Improvement Trust, Municipal Corporation, PWSSB today conducted a meeting at minister's residence with the councilors of central constituency regarding the issues faced by the citizens. The officials were called to discuss the deteriorating state of the basic amenities and immediate solution. Councilors reported scarcity of clean drinking water, contamination in supply, blocked sewerage system or absence of the system, lighting arrangements and other issues. Sh. Soni said that government allocates sufficient funds but the execution of the works by the contractors but the mechanism of the allocation of tenders is faulty which result in sub standard development of the systems. He said that he has instructed all the departments to immediately float tenders for the development works with 14 days to close the tender instead of 21 days to fasten up the allocation process. He said the harshness of weather has made the lives of the residents miserable and the departments have no time to waste in processes and procedures. I have made it abundantly clear to the administration to provide the people with basic amenities and provide it in no time, said Soni.
He further said that due to ever depleting water level the easy provision of drinking water has become a challenge so new means of water harvesting has to be considered. The minister also instructed the departments to take strict action against the erring executing agencies. He added that the sites for CCTV installation under Smart City scheme are also being scrutinized and new recommendations are being made.Informing about the meeting Sh. Karamjit Singh informed that considering the worsening state of infrastructure and amenities due to rising temperature, they have conducted their maiden constituency wise meeting for the instant solution to the issues faced by the residents. He said that as the minister has made it clear to the implementation agencies to expedite the work allocation process, he has instructed the departments to take permission from government for eliminating the provision of subletting the tender works or formulating strict guidelines for subletting. He informed that large companies get tenders but sublet to smaller companies with less or no experience compromising the quality of the work. In order to bring quality in development works we have to take rigid stand and get the procedures amended said the Mayor. He said that each ward has been allocated with a labour team which shall be unclogging and cleaning the sewer lines within a month to save the water pipes from getting contaminated. He said that super sucking machines are also being employed to get sewers unclogged in order to prepare for the monsoon season.