Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday categorically directed all the District Development and Panchayat Officers (DDPO) of the state to release the illegal encroachments on all the government panchayat lands across the state by June 10.
He said that during the first phase last year, around 9400 acres of government panchayat lands have been freed from illegal possession and this drive should be accelerated this year to fulfil the aim of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Dhaliwal said that apart from the court related cases, remaining illegal possession on all the government panchyat lands should be freed by June 10.
Pertinently, in the second phase, 469 acres of other government panchayat lands have been freed from illegal encroaches. Presiding over a meeting of all DDPOs of the state at the local Punjab Bhavan, Dhaliwal said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has unequivocally directed all departments to provide a transparent and corruption-free administration to the people.
He said that in consonance with aim of the Chief Minister, no recommendation of any influenced person or political leader should be accepted during the bidding of any land. The bidding of each land should be conducted in a transparent manner and without any recommendation.
He said that a minimum amount of Rs 15,000 will be fixed for the bidding of Shamlat lands and the the money will be collected in cash from the successful bidder. He took serious note of the fact that many land holdings in the state are being given out on small leases, due to which the government exchequer is suffering huge losses.
He said that afforestation drive will be launched from July 1 to utilize the lands which could not be given on lease on all such lands. Dhaliwal said that aim of this move is to provide employment to the people working under MGNREGA and help to protect the environment.
Giving instructions to all the DDPOs, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Dhaliwal said that the government roads coming on way of private colonies, the money must be recovered from the respective colony owners by June 20. He said that departmental action will be taken against the negligent officer in this regard.
On this occasion, Dhaliwal also advocated for providing revenue training to DDPOs. He said that district development and panchayat officers are directly concerned with land matters, so they should also know about the basic functioning of the revenue department. He said that all the DDPOs should be given revenue training soon so that the work of the department can run more smoothly.
Dhaliwal encouraged all the DDPOs to work diligently so that the state can be made 'Rangala Punjab' again. In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Department K. Siva Prasad, Director Gurpreet Singh Khaira and other senior officials of the department were present.