Surjya Kanta Mishra: Poll push

Jalpaiguri, Feb. 6: Rural development minister Surjya Kanta Mishra has emphasised that zilla parishads must complete schemes launched by the department before the panchayat elections scheduled to be held in May this year.

The minister was holding a meeting on Wednesday with sabhadhipatis of six districts of north Bengal at Jalpaiguri Circuit House.

Dipti Dutta, sabhadhipati of Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad, said, “The minister stressed that zilla parishads should speed-up implementation of development schemes. We were also instructed to monitor the progress regularly.”

The minister said that Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad had been rated as the second best zilla parishad of the state as far as performance was concerned.

Mishra reportedly told the sabhadhipatis and officials of the panchayat and the rural development departments that the state government expected more efficiency from these bodies.

An official from Jalpaiguri, who attended the meeting, said, “Mishra urged panchayat officials to improve performance and complete the schemes. Enquiring about allegations of corruption and misappropriation against some village panchayats, he said the department concerned would definitely take steps against the guilty.”

“We are constructing four bungalows in Mainaguri, Falakata, Metelli and Kamakhyaguri. Except Metelli, we hope the other three can be inaugurated by March this year,” she added.

The Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad also has projects like Khukshia Park, Dhupguri-Gilandy Bridge and the Mainaguri bus terminus on the cards.

Dutta said, “We are trying our best to complete these projects and open them for the public soon.”

“Before the election, we are optimistic of providing electric connections to about 2,000 families under the rural electrification scheme. For this, we will soon hold a meeting with officials of the state electricity board,” Dutta said.