Jacob lists focus areas for UT

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob retd, after taking over his new assignment, today for the ...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob retd, after taking over his new assignment, today for the first time visited the UT Secretariat in Sector 9 and held a meeting with officials of the Chandigarh Administration.

Presiding over the meeting, the Administrator while listing out the focus areas for UT, laid emphasis on improving the quality of life for city residents, educational standards, especially primary and vocational education, improvement of health and medical facilities and maintenance and preservation of environment.

Jacob said he expected the Administration to be people-friendly, transparent, answerable to public and fair and just. He said the Administration must provide a level playing field to every citizen and expected 100 per cent integrity and dedication from the employees and officers of UT.

The Administrator asked the Home Secretary to take active steps in volatilising the education system. He said the Administration should provide computer education to every student and this process can be started from Class X, which can later be extended to the middle and primary level.

He asked the Director Sports to maintain all playing fields properly, especially in schools, so that youth could be encouraged in the physical activities and games. While stressing upon the maintenance and preservation of existing green belts, Jacob asked the Administration to explore the possibility of setting up a botanical garden in the city in the interest of education, recreation and tourism.

He asked the Deputy Conservator of Forests to ensure that there was no encroachment on forest land and each and every tree was well guarded and preserved. Stressing that the garbage disposal process has to be scientific and systematic, he asked the Administration to explore the possibility of making paper bags from bagasse and discourage use of plastic bags.

The Administrator called for making Chandigarh a major tourist destination and asked CITCO to encourage conducted tours to religious places, places of historical and ancient importance in neighbouring states.

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Expressing his concern over deficit in the budget, the Administrator said the Administration should explore the possibility of raising revenue without hurting the common man. He asked the Health Secretary to start CT scan and MRI facility at Chandigarh Medical College at the earliest.

An Administration press release stated that the Administrator would continue to review the working of other UT departments during individual meeting with officers in the next few days.