In an effort to strengthen the administrative machinery, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday (June 13) directed Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers, Superintendents of Police and other senior officials to remain stationed at district headquarters and be present in their offices by 10 a.m. to address public grievances and ensure effective implementation of welfare and development programmes.

Along with his cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister held his second meeting with senior State officials in less than a week, at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

He instructed district-level officers to visit every taluk and convene meetings with block-level officials to ensure proper enumeration of voters during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Public access

District officials were also directed to prominently display their office addresses and telephone numbers on government websites to facilitate public access. Mr. Shivakumar said Secretariat-level officers would maintain regular contact with district administrations and communicate priority programmes and instructions.

“Officials must respond positively and promptly to the problems faced by the public,” he said.

The Chief Minister also told police officers to form squads to round up rowdies/anti-social elements in each district to ensure law and order.

Monsoon preparedness

With monsoon rains lashing several parts of the state, the Chief Minister reviewed the availability of key agricultural inputs, including fertilizers, seeds and pesticides, and directed officials to ensure adequate supplies.

He also instructed authorities to complete the distribution of textbooks, school bags, uniforms and shoes to students within the next month.

Referring to schools with very low enrolment, Mr. Shivakumar said the government would explore the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for constructing school buildings in gram panchayat areas rather than in urban centres.

“I have conveyed how the new government should function. We must provide a transparent administration and eliminate corruption,” he said.

Ring roads in towns

To address growing traffic congestion in smaller cities and towns, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that every urban centre should have a ring road, and directed officials to prepare plans accordingly.

‘PM said I am doing good work’

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar responded to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s warning that he would launch a legal battle against the Bidadi Township project by saying, “I wish Kumaraswamy well. When I met the Prime Minister, he told me that he too had developed seven or eight townships and that I am doing good work by reducing the pressure on Bengaluru. He conveyed this advice to me. Keeping that in mind, we are proceeding with the project.”