DEVELOP BASIC INFRA IN BORDER AREAS, CM TELLS OFFICIALS

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed officials to take effective steps to develop basic infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water, security and telecom network, in all villages of border areas of Uttar Pradesh, said a government spokesman.

He emphasised that paucity of funds would not be allowed to come in the way of development of border areas in U.P. On the directions of the chief minister, principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad presided over a highlevel meeting to review progress of work done by various government agencies to develop infrastructure in border areas.

The departments concerned were asked to make a report available to the government within the next 10 working days, clearly stating as to what work they had done so far and what new work they proposed to do in the border areas in future.

Prasad laid emphasis on the need for posting able, energised and sensitive officials in border areas so that they could contribute to the development of these areas.

Borders areas should be developed just like any other area in the state, he said, adding that special efforts should be made to develop tourism in these areas where public awareness needed to be created through rural festivals and ‘haat’ (weekly market) from time to time.

According to the spokesman, it was informed in the meeting that all possible efforts were being made to strengthen security in border areas.

Pachauri, supported by the two other MPs, had written a letter to commissioner, Kanpur division, on Thursday night, seeking to cancel the meeting and raised questions on the Speaker holding such a meeting. He questioned the Speaker’s domain and indicated that holding such a meeting was an infringement on MPs’ rights. The letter underlined that district development coordination and monitoring committee meeting to review development work takes place under the chairmanship of Ashok Rawat.

The letter was sent after an aide of the speaker, Mulk Raj, wrote to commissioner, Kanpur division, Raj Shekhar, asking him for this meeting to be convened at his office on November 18

A copy of the letter was marked to the chief minister. HT is in possession of copy.

An unfazed Mahana went ahead with the meeting. Apart from officials, BJP MLAs Abhijeet Singh Saanga, Surendra Maithani and Neelima Katiyar attended it while SP MLA Amitabh Bajpai was also present.