Sachin Malik: Uttar Pradesh Minister for Urban Development and Energy, A.K Sharma, Chaired a review meeting of the Urban Development Department at Sangam Auditorium in Lucknow to assess monsoon Preparedness across the State. During the meeting, he reviewed the Status of Waterlogging, Sewer Overflow, drain Cleaning, waste collection and Sanitation arrangements in all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats and issued necessary Directions.
Minister Sharma instructed officials to ensure that no urban local body experiences waterlogging, sewer backflow, unhygienic conditions or accumulation of Garbage during the rainy Season. He emphasized that all civic bodies must work on a war footing to Prevent inconvenience to the Public and Protect citizens from the risk of Infections.
Highlighting the increased likelihood of communicable diseases during the monsoon, the Minister directed all urban local bodies to Give top Priority to the regular spraying of bleaching Powder, anti-larval Chemicals and other required disinfectants to Prevent the outbreak of Infections or Epidemics.
He further instructed officials to complete the maintenance of all Pumping Stations and Pumping sets immediately and conduct trial runs well in advance so that they remain fully operational Whenever required. He made it Clear that excuses such as machine failure or Pending maintenance during the rainy season would not be accepted and that all equipment must remain in working Condition at all Times.
During the review meeting, Minister Sharma interacted in detail with officials from Municipal Corporations including Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad and Agra, as well as Municipal Councils and other urban local bodies including Muzaffarnagar, Mau and Pilibhit. He reviewed their Pre-monsoon Preparedness and issued necessary Instructions.
The Minister also warned that Strict accountability would be fixed if any instance of sewer Overflow, negligence in drain Cleaning, waterlogging or deficiencies in sanitation arrangements were Found. He directed Municipal Commissioners to Personally monitor sanitation operations on a regular basis and ensure Prompt redressal of every Public Complaint.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Guru Prasad; Director Anuj Kumar Jha; Special Secretary Satya Prakash Patel; Mission Director Ritu Suhas; and other senior departmental officials. Municipal Commissioners and concerned officers from across the state participated in the meeting through virtual mode.
