Gandhinagar, May 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday directed the preparation of a new standard operating procedure (SOP) to reduce delays in development projects across Gujarat, particularly in securing land acquisition clearances and departmental permissions, during a meeting of the state cabinet held in Gandhinagar.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, state government spokesperson and minister Jitu Vaghani said the Chief Minister had issued several instructions aimed at improving transparency, speeding up administration and prioritising public convenience.

“CM Patel had initiated an intensive review of various projects across the state to advance development works and ensure that approved projects do not remain stalled due to procedural delays,” he said.

He noted that the Chief Minister had emphasised that permissions such as land acquisition clearances and no-objection certificates (NOCs) from various departments, including the Forest Department, should be granted without delay.

“To avoid delays after projects are approved, it is extremely necessary that permissions such as land acquisition clearances and NOCs from various departments, including the Forest Department, are obtained promptly. To speed up this process, the Chief Minister has instructed the Chief Secretary of the state to prepare a new SOP,” he said.

The cabinet meeting also reviewed the state’s preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.

Vaghani said that the Chief Minister had instructed authorities to complete pre-monsoon works across Gujarat in speed and ensure that all departments remain fully prepared so that citizens do not face inconvenience during the rainy season.

“Keeping in view the arrival of the monsoon, the Chief Minister has instructed that pre-monsoon works across the state be completed at a very fast pace. The administration has been urged to remain fully prepared so that citizens do not face any kind of inconvenience during the rains,” he noted.

He further stated that the Chief Minister had directed officials to identify immediate water sources and make arrangements to fill lakes developed by municipalities and municipal corporations in urban areas that are currently empty.

“Immediate water sources should be identified and arrangements made promptly to provide water to lakes developed by municipalities and municipal corporations in urban areas that are presently empty,” he said.

The Chief Minister also issued strict instructions that there should be no compromise on quality in ongoing construction and infrastructure works in the state.

According to Vaghani, Patel directed engineers and officials to ensure there were no shortcomings even in smaller technical aspects such as line-levels and flooring in buildings.

“He has instructed that there should be no deficiencies in engineering works and that engineers must not neglect even small aspects such as line-level and flooring. Wherever defects are noticed, immediate corrective measures should be taken,” he said.

The meeting additionally focused on environmental and sanitation initiatives.

Vaghani said the Urban Development Department had been instructed to make necessary funding arrangements to encourage tree plantation activities in municipal areas across Gujarat.

He added that Patel had also suggested the creation of a separate sanitation “head” at the gram panchayat, taluka panchayat and district panchayat levels to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign at the grassroots level.

“To strengthen the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign down to the grassroots level, the Chief Minister has suggested creating a separate head for sanitation at the gram panchayat, taluka and district panchayat levels,” Vaghani said.

–IANS

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