Munda at the meeting. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Sept. 21: Fed-up with the bureaucracy over delays in execution of development work, an angry chief minister today threatened to make negative comments in the annual evaluation of all such deputy commissioners (DC), the deputy development commissioners (DDC) and officials.

He also ordered black-listing of all contractors who have not completed their projects within the stipulated time.

Besides, the chief minister also directed the rural development secretary to visit each district, from October 28 onwards, to review the development projects along with the DCs, DDCs and the block development officers. The officer was also told to make a spot verification and brief the chief minister on a day-to-day basis through video-conferencing.

During the course of a review meeting at his residence, Munda expressed his dissatisfaction over the pace in which the development projects were being executed in the state.

He concluded that the district rural development authorities had flopped miserably in chalking out a concrete progress plan for their districts.

Reviewing the Indira Awaas Yojana, Gram Setu Yojana and the Deendayal Awaas Yojana, the chief minister directed stern action against such officers who had failed to complete 30 per cent of their projects within the deadline. Those who had completed more than 60 per cent would be rewarded, he added.

According to sources, Munda?s sudden change in his attitude ? the chief minister is known to crack jokes to lighten the mood at such meetings with cabinet colleagues and department secretaries ? was aimed at getting across the point that he meant business. This, especially, since the review meetings will continue for the next 10 days.

Political observers feel Munda?s recent trips abroad and the raft of MoUs signed with different multinationals, keen in investing in Jharkhand, could be the reason behind his sudden change of stance and focus on fast development. As one of them put it, ?the chief minister wants the state to put up a more presentable face before the investors?.

Warning about a possible drinking water crisis in the state in the days to come, Munda suggested that a project be chalked out to tap the natural water resources.

The non-completion of the railway projects also drew Munda?s concern, prompting him to direct the transport commissioner to review all such ongoing projects and submit a report to him within a week.

In the next few days, he will review the progress of departments like home, jail, urban development, drinking water, sanitation and agriculture.