The Arunachal Pradesh government has decided to take stern and exemplary action against unions and groups indulged in extortion and donations demands to government officials and would deal with them in the most stringent possible manner.
The decision to this effect was taken in a high level meeting here yesterday convened by chief secretary H K Paliwal which was also attended by principal secretary (Home), DGP, secretary (Home) and commissioners and secretaries as well as chief engineers of all works departments, official sources informed here today.
The meeting decided that an appeal would be issued to all the organisations that in the interest of development of the state and its people and looking into the future of the state such demands may be stopped forthwith.
The chief secretary said that the state has very badly suffered due to lack of infrastructure but the government was trying hard to build infrastructure in various sectors like power, hydropower, roads and bridges, railway and airports with the Centre very generously helping.
While expressing concern over the fact that when the state is on the threshold of vast infrastructure development, the official observed that large-scale complaints are being received from those who are engaged in construction of these projects including contractors and the engineers, afflicted by extortions and donation demands being made by various organisations, unions, groups or their representatives.
All senior officers particularly those belonging to the works department unanimously decided that these practices of extortions and donations from the departments, their officers and contractors should be stopped forthwith and an advisory in the form of an appeal should be issued to all those who are involved in such activities of raising demands, the sources added.
