 "Mission 2017: UP bureaucracy asked to pull socks")
With eyes on the 2017 elections, the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) government in Uttar Pradesh is nudging the respective District Magistrates (DM) to ensure timely completion of all flagship projects falling under their jurisdiction.
The DMs have also been directed to forge direct contact with the people, including farmers and traders, to take their feedback on various welfare schemes launched by the government.
Chairing a meeting of all the DMs here on Wednesday, the newly-appointed chief secretary Deepak Singhal underlined they have to venture out in the field to take stock of the progress of various projects.
UP polls are due in early 2017 and the ruling dispensation is working overtime to complete its flagship projects before poll dates are announced, so that they could be inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav before the poll model code of conduct comes into force.
While, the DMs have been advised to cultivate a congenial rapport with subordinates to speed up the work, they have been instructed for strict action against slack officials if the fortnightly and monthly targets were not met.
The DMs have been directed to organise 'job fairs' as well to facilitate employment to the educated youth.
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Singhal mentioned there would be no compromise on the 51 important projects identified by Yadav for completion.
Besides, they have been ordered to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers in their districts to preempt any price rise owing to supply constraints.
The DMs have been asked to swoop down upon unscrupulous traders dealing in fake medicines, adulterated milk etc.
The Akhilesh regime is hoping to tide over anti-incumbency and return to power on the back of its development agenda spanning sectors such as infrastructure, social, education, agriculture etc.
Some of the flagship projects include Lucknow Metro Rail, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Lucknow IT City, International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, among others.