Chief Minister Raman Singh firmly reiterated the Government’s stand of ‘Zero Tolerance’ and said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) would not be kept as ‘caged parrots’. These agencies would be given enough powers and autonomy to ensure punishment for the guilty through the court.
Replying to the debate on demand grants of his departments for the financial year 2015-16 in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Tuesday, Singh said that the intentions of the State Government are clear and it will demolish the whereabouts of corruption.
Referring to Food and Civil Supplies graft case, Singh said that both FCS and ACB are part of the Government and ACB has taken action against FCS on getting information of irregularity in the Department. Instead of allegations on individuals or unsubstantiated allegations, complaints with evidences should be lodged with EOW and ACB, the Chief Minister said.
He said that after discussion on the House, the Chhattisgarh Special Courts Bill was passed to confiscate properties of corrupt officers. Singh then outlined the different schemes of his departments and said that Chhattisgarh has set new dimensions through innovations in different fields and done works of public interest and thereby strengthened the people.
He mentioned the provisions for various departments including sports and youth welfare, labour, forest, electricity, industry, aviation, law-legislative, public relations, mineral resources, planning, and IT. Singh said that the biggest botanical garden of the country will be established on 417 acres of land in Naya Raipur. A Jungle safari will also be developed on 800 acres of land in Naya Raipur. After discussion, the demand grants to the tune of Rs7518.86 crores of his departments were passed by voice votes in the House.
This includes Rs141.72 crores for the General Administration Department, Rs22.10 crores for expenses related to the general department, Rs3882.18 crores for Finance Department, Rs39.42 crores for Planning, Economic and Statistics Department, Rs52.74 crores for expenses related to the district projects, Rs1076.90 crores for Energy Department Rs412.45 crores for the Mineral Resources Department, Rs95.21 crores for Public Relations Department, Rs77.72 crores for Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, Rs68.94 crores for Aviation Department, Rs246.66 crores for Commerce and Industry Department, Rs112.11 crores for Sports and Youth Welfare, Rs327.82 crores for law administration and Elections, Rs896.37 crores for Forest Department and Rs118.68 crores for labour Department.