Tasks and responsibilities spelled out, now to await performance

100 DAYS TO PUT ONGOING PROJECTS ON FAST-TRACK, REALIGN PRIORITIES TO ENSURE DELIVERY
GANGTOK: As part of its tasks for the 100 day countdown which began yesterday, the Health Department is required to initiate and formalize all requirement to ensure that the 575-bedded hospital coming up in Gangtok is completed in time and that all specialists are contacted to submit their requirements so that the construction is in keeping with their requirements. Work in this direction should start immediately and that training of doctors undertaken with an eye on the position of manpower.
This is included in the 109-page document listing out specific tasks for 30 Departments to complete within 100 days [by 15 July, 2011]. The document was released by the Chief Minister at an interactive meeting yesterday.
Similarly, the Labour department has to prioritise local interest in all private firms and institutions and depute its inspectors to keep watch against violation of labour norms in these enterprises. Further, warehouses of all manufacturing units should be established in Sikkim and not outside since the state government loses out on revenue through VAT when warehousing moves out. Enforcement of labour Compensation Act and direct employment of locals in executive posts on the basis of qualification should also be enforced, the Department has been reminded.

Under Power Department, the points which are of significance spell out the constitution of a State Power Regulatory Commission, ensuring quality power supply to all citizens. The Department is also reminded that heavy axle vehicles being operated by power project developers have caused substantial damage to the state highways. These need to be suitably repaired or compensated by the project developers and the Department has to submit a detailed proposal [within a week] on how it plans to ensure this.
In the tourism sector apart from the development of quality tourism, there is 600 acres of land with the government and capable private sector companies along with locals should be given land on lease for construction of hotels, shopping malls, golf course, health tourism, entertainment parks, theme parks etc.
The Commerce & Industries Department has been directed to appoint a project officer to oversee all new projects in the non- governmental sector abide by laid down guidelines and MoUs. That the trade mart at Nathula should be completed and it should be of international standards as it involves prestige of the state. The trade mart should also run professionally with tradable items list to be increased. The quality of items offered for sale should be of high standard. Whatever is demanded should be in supply list. The items in demand should be catered to for which proposal from the department as expected in the government. The Department is also tasked to ensure 100 percent employment to local people.
The Forest department on the other hand has been directed to provide environmental clearance immediately, especially for the Sky Walk at Bhaley Dhunga, Mainam. That another zoo be constructed along with two picnic spots. Also that the lamentable state of affairs of bird park at Rabdentse and butterfly park in North Sikkim did not speak well of the Department and a report on the same should be submitted immediately, the Documents demands.
The Agriculture department has been asked to pursue with the state’s mission of a totally organic state for which ban on the use of chemical fertilizers should be immediately enforced.
The Animal Husbandry department has been tasked to also meet the requirement of meat products like beef and buff from within the state and also concentrate on dairy and poultry farming more energetically. The protection of indigenous species of cows is also one of the areas which the department has been asked to work on and finalise a plan for within 100 days.
The Department of Personnel has been given the task to regularize all MR, Workcharge, Adhoc employees as per the norms and that proper manpower utilization and planning should be conducted for redeployment in required departments. That all the officials who have been transferred on deputation should be regularized and the Service and Conduct Rules implemented properly. Under the Chief Minister’s Self Employment Scheme, the limit of Rs. 3 lakh on loan is to be raised to Rs. 10 lakh for those who are serious and genuine entrepreneurs for setting up fast food, catering, memento-making, hotel, travel agency, bakery, dairy, goatery, piggery, mushroom cultivation, floriculture, horticulture and transport.
Works to be initiated immediately by the UD&HD are to streamline the sewerage system in all bazaars and towns along with the upgradation, beautification and provision of all basic amenities like drinking water, toilets, children parks, entertainment parks, open theatres etc. that no compromise should be made under waste management  and proper regulation should be framed. That signboards in all bazaars should now be in English and Devnagari script. That estimates should be technically correct and presentable at any level and that engineers should be competent and answerable, the task sheet reminds. The Department has also been told that no consultant be appointed without government approval and that a law be framed for construction of earthquake resistant buildings.
The Transport department is to study the possibility of “hop-in and hop-off” bus services on a regular basis to sightseeing locations for tourists within Gangtok as done in London and other metros. It has also been directed to work out a plan for proper toilet facilities and provision of tea and snacks at all bus stops and for transport trucks to take full loads both ways instead of the present operation in which trucks only ply loaded one-way.
The Road and Bridges has been tasked to work out whether new enlistment of contractors should include a solvency certificate so that contractor certificates are given on the basis of financial security and all tendered road constructions started within 100 days.  Landslide treatment along the roads should be more scientifically planned and executed and land compensations payments ensured. Further, the department should be in touch with the BRO for overall serviceability of NH-31A and other roads under them. Estimates prepared should be technically correct and presentable at any level for which the engineers should be competent and answerable. And all tendering works should be transparent and competitive.
On specific directions, the Water Security and PHE department has been told to coordinate with the Forest and Science & Technology departments to make a proper hydrology map of Sikkim with projections for the next 50 years.
Similarly, the Building & Housing department has been reminded to find out the total land under its possession and submit a report of these details. Further, the department should redesign all buildings with a scientific and modernized approached.
The Irrigation and Flood Control department will need to ensure that all works upto Rs. 10 lakh are be done under MGNREGA. That the new channels should be given not only for paddy fields but also for cardamom and dry field areas for vegetable and flower growing for which Rs. 150 crores has been kept aside.
For the Culture Department, among the works to be initiated within 100 days are the “conservation and propagation of the culture and tradition of the people of Sikkim which is also the priority of the government and documentation of all culture facets song, drama, dance and theatre should be done and the same should be connected with the tourism department.”
The Sports and Youth Affairs department should start with construction of stadiums wherever required within the state along with the initiation of interschool sports meet. A calendar of sports training needs to be prepared and a sports academy set up along with separate academies for archery and football. State level felicitations have to also be arranged to honour the sports heroes from Sikkim.
The Ecclesiastical Affairs Department should start with the improvement of monastic schools and submit a report on the promotion of religious institutions contributions and facilities of the Government.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has been entrusted to strictly check the quality of food grains for stock reserve which can last for three months at least. That all beneficiaries who have still not received the LPG cylinders should be serviced soon and the weight and measures wing of the department be made more active.
The Planning and Development department has been given the duty to complete the framing of proper planning policy to ensure revenue generation and that the new planning approach should usher “measurement and increase in the happiness index” of the people along with revenue and human resource growth.
The works to be initiated by the Finance Department specify streamlining to cut delays. That the use of electronic transfer of funds be arranged to various places within the state. That if the budget has been approved by the Assembly the requirement of sending the file to Finance is wastage of time and that the files should come to the Finance in cases of payment of bills for checks. A proposal to ensure this has been sought within 100 days.
Works for the Police Department include a proposal to “skillfully upgrade time specific offences like cyber crime”. All outposts and entry points into the state have to be upgraded with all vacancies to be filled with new recruitment.
The Science and Technology department has been assigned the task to evolve a plan of action for the conservation and propagation of the rich bio-diversity of the state, all schools to be connected with internet and a study on Glaciers be proposed.
The Information Technology Department in its 100 day task has to implement E-Governance. That the I-T park has to start immediately and new tie-ups with technology giants be initiated.
The IPR Department has been entrusted the responsibility to start with the projection of the works and achievements of the government. The department has been directed to check Yellow Journalism and rebut “baseless allegations” made against the government. The department has also been tasked to print the history of Sikkim, encourage film making, complete the study series and set-up an audio- video library for future records. The department has to also prepare a coffee table on achievements of the government.
[ANAND OBEROI]