UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked the legislators to refrain from the raising the questions in the assembly for protecting the interests of the contractors. He said the government is determined to eliminate the shady characters in the contract business in the state and the officer and engineers would face tough action if found to protecting the contractors with the criminal background.
"It is unfortunate that the legislators and their family members or near and dear ones are involved contract business and the questions are raised in assembly if the favored contractor fails to get the contract. I have directed all officials to check the credentials of all contractors and weed out the shady characters ‘, said the Chief Minister while intervening during the question hour over a question on construction and repair of the flood control embankments in flood prone are4as of the state.
CM said the government was concerned over the annual menace of floods and has directed authorities concerned to complete all remedial measures before the onset of monsoon.
"We have identified all flood-prone areas and there is no paucity of funds to take up the preventive measures. But if we find any lapses in the construction work then the officials will not be spared," he warned.
Earlier replying to question, Minister of State for Irrigation Swati Singh said funds have been allotted from the contingency funds for the maintenance and repair of the embankments in flood affected districts by June 15. The government admitted that 28 districts are most flood-prone areas while 38 are sensitive to floods. The Minister said against the sanction amount of Rs 30 crore from the vote on account of 2017-18 for flood prevention projects, the state government has released more than Rs 16 crore for the purpose.