Bhubaneswar, May 26: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik began review of performance of four departments as part of his exercise at the end of two years of his government.
The departments he reviewed included Housing & Urban Development Department, Skill Development and Technical Education Development.
Patnaik lauded the the achievements of the H&UD department during the period for securing the first rank among smart cities at all India level, being the cleanest city, 100 Aahar centres serving food at Rs 5 to about 70,000 people across the State, laying new pipe lines in Urban areas and passage of the Municipal Service Bill-2016.
He appreciated the efforts of the department to launch City Bus service in 15 more cities and towns of the State.
However, he advised the department to expedite the Housing schemes in the urban areas and provide affordable houses to the beneficiaries.
He directed the officials, including the District Magistrates, to earmark sufficient land to achieve the goal.
He also directed the officials to develop infrastructure in small and medium town and bring reforms in the e-Governance system in the municipalities.
“Every municipality must ensure energy conservation through use of energy saving lighting systems,” he told the officials.
The chief Minister asked the authorities of Sambalpur and Berhampur Municipality Corporations to complete the solid waste recycling projects on schedule and ensure drainage of rain water to avoid water logging in their cities during floods and rainy season.
Reviewing the Skill Development and Technical Education Department activities, the Chief Minister stressed on the expansion of the government’s skill development programme to the grassroots.
He hoped that the newly created Odisha Skill Development Authority will usher in qualitative improvement in the skill development programmes of the State government
Patnaik directed the department authorities to ensure skill development training to at least 150 youth including women in each panchayat to fulfil the commitment made by the party during the general election in 2014.
He also asked the authorities to expedite the process of setting up of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in 68 blocks, which don’t have such institutes now, at the earliest.
The Ministers and senior officials of the concerned departments were present at the review meeting.
