Dipak K Dash
NEW DELHI: After taking over as housing and urban affairs minister on Tuesday, former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal urged officers to see what steps can be taken up on campaign mode to prevent urban flooding, sanitation issues and water-borne diseases during monsoon season.
Sources said the minister who has served as CM for nine years also asked officials to focus on a massive cleanliness drive and take initiatives to convert waste to wealth.The minister’s call comes at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the untreated solid waste in the National Capital Region (NCR) and has also sought the details of measures to deal with the crisis. Manohar Lal as CM also earlier dealt with instances of massive flooding in Gurgaon and Faridabad during monsoon.
TOI has learnt that he has asked officials to take all possible steps to achieve the task of one one crore new houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban for the poor, which the Cabinet approved on Monday. The minister will also soon review the implementation of ministry’s schemes at state-level.
“He took notes on different presentations that were made during the two-and-a-half hour long meeting. Since he has served as CM of state, he was well aware of the problems that our cities face and what needs to be done. He will take presentation and review meeting of each wing and mission of the ministry. He will hold a separate session on the NCR related issues and the NCR Planning Board,” said a source.