HP cabinet nod for quicker public services

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has given its assent to a bill that will guarantee the delivery of basic public services to citizens within a fixed time period.

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has given its assent to a bill that will guarantee the delivery of basic public services to citizens within a fixed time period. The bill – the Himachal Pradesh Public Services Guarantee Bill,2011 – that will be introduced in the monsoon session of the State Assembly,beginning here next month,is expected to ensure quick response,transparency,and accountability in the administration at different levels.

The government proposes to empower citizens to get all notified basic services within a stipulated time ,and question the government servants on non delivery of the services. Its a path-breaking move in Himachal Pradesh. In fact,some of the basic services have already been made online,but the bill gives a guarantee to the citizens, said Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Inquiries have revealed that under the new legislation,major public services like issuing caste,birth,marriage and domicile certificates,drinking water connections,ration cards,copies of land records by revenue officials and Deputy Commissioners office will be notified in the first phase.

The designated government servants will be made fully accountable for any service deficiency. If officials fail to perform their duties and provide these services on time,they will have to pay a fine,the amount for which will also be fixed before the bill is introduced in the Assembly. Only a few state governments including Madhya Pradesh ,Bihar,Jammu and Kashmir and UP have enacted a similar law,an official said.

Meanwhile,in a bid to check exploitation by middlemen and ensure growers get a remunerative price for their produce,the cabinet has decided to implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)for Apples. It has been decided to procure ‘C grade apples for Rs 5.25 per kg under the scheme starting from July 20 to October 31,2011 through 259 apple procurement centres and HPMC,HIMFED and HP Agro Industries Corporation,said Horticulture minister Narinder Bragta. The cabinet also gave its assent to Principal Secretary (Tourism) Manisha Nanda to sign a Loan Agreement with the Asian Development Bank authorities and procure $ 95.16 million to improve tourism infrastructure in the State.

Other decisions

* The cabinet has decided to implement the condition of 15 percent discharge of water immediately down stream from Hydel Power Projects in the state.

* It has accepted the report of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited about discrepancies in elevations of the 261 MW Yangthang- Khab Project,which will now be changed to reduce its adverse effects on the environment and other social economic issues.

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* It approved the regularisation of 219 class IV daily wage employees in the Irrigation and Public Health Department .

* Approved amendment proposal of Himachal Pradesh Lease Rules,1993 to the Cabinet Sub Committee set-up for changes in the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Rules.

* Decided to accord electronic facilities to traders in the state by amending the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Rules,2005 for quick filing of their returns.

* 30 posts of Junior Engineers (Civil,Mechanical and Electrical) in the Irrigation and Public Health Department have been sanctioned.

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