Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday asked the Local Government Department to check the mushrooming growth of unplanned and haphazard constructions across the State in the right earnest and all out efforts should be made to provide the basic amenities to the residents across the State.

Channi, while reviewing the functioning of the Local Government, asked the Principal Secretary Local Government AK Sinha to issue detailed guidelines to the Municipal Councils to allow construction of houses in the urban areas only as per the building plans duly approved by the concerned authorities.

He also categorically said that the rampant corruption prevailing in the Department at different levels must be checked immediately as there are several complaints from the common people about being harassed for even getting their genuine works done like approval of building plans, permission for water and sewerage connections.

Channi also directed the Principal Secretary Local Government that he should personally ensure that people should be given the best civic amenities like potable water supply, street lighting, sewerage, roads and parks etc.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to make provision of at least 35 feet roads in the colonies so as to enable the people to have hassle free road connectivity. He said that the colonies’ plans of those colonizers, who keep narrow roads of 20 feet, should not be approved.

Channi also asked the department’s Principal Secretary to put in place an effective mechanism to redress the grievances of the general public on the priority.

He also asked him to instruct the Director Local Government to hold regular meetings of the EOs of Municipal Councils to ensure holistic urban development of the State.