Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Sartaj Singh on Monday admitted in the Assembly that several Government officials continue to occupy Government bungalows in violation of the rules in the State’s commercial capital. Raising the matter during Question Hour, Sudarshan Gupta (Bharatiya Janata Party) said Government rules are not being implemented and several Government officials continue to occupy bungalows even after their transfer or retirement.
In his reply, Singh said penal rent is being charged from government officials who overstay at bungalows even after their transfer. Notices are being issued to them and appropriate action would be taken. He said three bungalows had been allocated to certain institutions but it has been found that they are not utilising them for the purpose meant. He assured that these bungalows would be vacated shortly.
In reply another query in the House, Madhya Pradesh Commerce and Industry Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia on said in the Assembly that the Opposition should encourage the regime in undertaking foreign visits as it facilitated branding of the state abroad.
During the Question Hour, Ramniwas Rawat of Congress sought to know the benefits that the dispensation could draw from such visits. In her reply, Scindia said two foreign trips were undertaken in 2014, four in 2015 and three in 2016.
She said the foreign visits helped in branding the heartland state in other countries. She asserted that several countries were not even aware about the states existence and pointed out that the recent visit to Japan aided in securing a loan of Rs 12,000 crore from the Japan External Trade Organisation at 0.3 per cent for metro rail project.