Mysuru: Additional Chief Secretary M. Lakshminarayana has directed  the officials of all departments to achieve physical and financial targets set to complete work by December-end as the election code of conduct could be imposed early next year.

He directed the officials to see to it that all those pending works that are at present moving at a snail’s pace move at a faster rate and completed by December.

Lakshminarayana was reviewing development projects initiated by various departments at the Deputy Commissioner’s office yesterday. Taking stock of the works initiated, he said that when the poll code is in place, development work cannot be launched but the ones which are in progress can be continued.

Also, most of the officers will be on election duty and works will suffer if not completed by December, he said. Lakshminarayana added that with poll duty, all senior officers will be occupied with that and they cannot supervise development works.  

Lakshminarayana directed officials to speed up all ongoing projects and complete them before the deadline expires, and float tenders for welfare projects without any delay. He said that there was no constraint of funds for welfare programmes for SC/ STs and officials should take up programmes.

“Regarding the Rs.100 crore released under the CM’s special grant, Rs. 50 was used to concretise Sayyaji Rao Road. Of the remaining Rs. 50 crore, Rs. 9.75 crore has been earmarked for improvement of Irwin Road, and Rs. 40 crore for reconstruction of Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building. But as there will be a delay in government approval for the proposals, the Rs. 40 crore amount should also be utilised to improve Irwin Road, he said.

Agriculture Department officers said the district had received good rainfall and sowing was done on 55,620 hectares of the set target of 1.02 lakh hectares. Sowing of paddy was taken up on 103 hectares and sugarcane on 43 hectares, and the focus is on growing pulses.

Due to heavy rainfall in the district, around 158.30 hectares of farmland was damaged, 14 people died, 541 houses were damaged, 17 cattle died and Rs 3.42 crore in crop insurance claims were yet to be settled. Lakshminarayana directed officials to settle all compensation to farmers as early as possible.

On the construction or renovation of government schools, colleges, hospitals and hostels, social welfare officers claim there are hostels and colleges which have to be renovated soon. Reacting to it, Lakshminarayana said the officers should rent a private building till the old buildings are renovated. New buildings should be constructed in phased manner so that completed sections can be utilised.

He directed MUDA authorities to provide land to government offices and educational institutions in new layouts, as it will help development of the area. Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, Additional DC T. Yogesh, DHO Basavaraju, MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, MUDA Commissioner P.S. Kantharaju and others were present.