“We are a welfare state elected for being accountable to the people. The emphasis on the aspect of e-Governance is being laid with a view to modernize the infrastructure in all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the state.” These views were expressed by the Local Government Minister, Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu here today at Municipal Bhawan while addressing the architects as well as the Commissioners of all the Municipal Corporations of Punjab on the occasion of rolling out the flagship 'e-Naksha Online Building Plan Approval System' (OBPAS). Divulging more, the minister said that the OBPAS would be a purely online platform. He further outlined that he is giving the timeframe of one and a half months to sort out the technicalities with regard to the project after which no building plan would be allowed to be submitted manually. Terming it as the revolutionary project and the giant leap towards the Progressive Punjab, the minister said that it is a one stop place for all the architects/citizens to submit drawings/documents for the building plan approval and would cater to the 165 ULBs as well as the 27 Improvement Trusts.Sidhu further said that there would be a 5 step process with regard to the OBPAS. Listing out the benefits of this unique project, the minister said that with its operationalization the common people would not have to make the endless rounds of the government offices to get their maps/drawings approved thus saving their precious time and energy.
The common people and the architects would need to log on to www.enaksha.lgpunjab.gov.in.Soliciting the cooperation of the people, the minister said that the project would ensure that the project would bring to the fore the transparency aspect which would ensure the filling up of the coffers of the state. He also said that the success of the project would also result in the 100 percent submission of the property and water tax which would strengthen the financial position of Punjab.Mr. Sidhu further added that the helpline numbers 0172-2619247, 2619248 besides a toll free number 1800-1800-172 have been started and an email [email protected] has also been commenced for any query related to the project.Listing out the futuristic vision, Mr. Sidhu said that the next focus area would be the starting of e-CLU system. He also disclosed that the previous regime had delegated the powers regarding CLUs to the committees and the corporations which had resulted in gross neglect of transparency factor but the present regime with firm commitment to the accountability aspect would make these citizen friendly services available to the people at the mere click while sitting at their homes.On the occasion, Principal Secretary Local Government Department, Punjab, Mr. A. Venu Prasad, CEO PMIDC Mr. Ajoy Sharma and Director, Local Government Department, Punjab, Mr. Karnesh Sharma were also present.