Karnal, April 6:- Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan held a meeting today at the District Secretariat with the Sarpanches (village heads) of the Gharaunda constituency. Five key subjects were deliberated upon during this meeting. The Speaker directed the concerned officials to hold further meetings with the Sarpanches to formulate detailed plans regarding these subjects and to work together effectively as a cohesive team. Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh, who was present at the meeting, directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad (District Council) to serve as the Nodal Officer for this initiative.
**Directives for Cleaning Ponds and Drains**
Speaker Kalyan noted that the crop harvesting season is currently underway, and the monsoon season is set to begin shortly thereafter. He emphasized that preparations must commence immediately to tackle the problem of waterlogging in villages. He directed the Sarpanches and concerned officials to ensure the timely desilting and cleaning of ponds, drains, and similar water bodies. He further pointed out that the accumulation of water during the rains leads to the spread of waterborne diseases, and that taking appropriate measures in a timely manner can prevent such outbreaks.
**Remove Piles of Waste from Roadsides**
He observed that while sanitation systems are efficient in many villages within the constituency, several others still have unsightly piles of refuse (dung heaps) lying along the roadsides. He stated that Panchayats must take appropriate steps to ensure the removal of these waste piles. If no land is currently available for waste disposal, alternative sites must be identified; specifically, land containing deep pits or depressions in the vicinity should be sought out.
He suggested that clusters of five to seven villages could collectively utilize such designated land for waste disposal. He stressed the need to pay adequate attention to maintaining proper sanitation standards and urged the Panchayats to actively raise public awareness regarding cleanliness among the villagers.
He directed that in villages where the facility of a small tractor-trolley for waste collection does not yet exist—provided that funds are available—the Panchayat should proceed with its immediate purchase. In cases where funds are currently unavailable, the Panchayats were asked to inform him, assuring them that he would personally make the necessary arrangements.
**Libraries and Women's Community Centers in Every Village**
Mr. Kalyan expressed his vision that every village should be equipped with both a library and a 'Mahila Chaupal' (Women's Community Center). He instructed the Sarpanches to identify suitable sites where a *Mahila Chaupal* (women's community center) could be established on the ground floor, with a library situated directly above it. The library should be equipped with facilities such as computers and Wi-Fi. This initiative would prove beneficial for young people preparing for competitive examinations. The Sarpanches expressed their agreement with this proposal.
**Land for Stadiums/Sports Grounds**
He noted that requests for stadiums or sports grounds were being received from numerous villages. However, not all Panchayats currently possess available Panchayat land. In those Panchayats where between three and six acres of land are available, officials should conduct a site assessment (mapping) and formulate plans for the construction of a stadium or sports ground. These stadiums and sports grounds would also be accessible to athletes from neighboring villages that lack available land for such facilities.
**Grants for Development**
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly stated that government grants for development projects are being allocated to every village, and funds from his own discretionary quota have already reached several villages. Any villages currently experiencing a shortfall in funds will also be provided with the necessary grants. He emphasized that the funds received for development projects must be utilized judiciously. There must be absolutely no compromise regarding the quality of construction materials; any negligence discovered will result in strict disciplinary action. He directed the CEO of the District Council to approach all the aforementioned matters in a systematic and planned manner.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh announced that the CEO would serve as the nodal officer responsible for advancing the various issues discussed during the session. He urged the Panchayats to prioritize the procurement of electric vehicles for waste collection, noting that this would result in significant savings on fuel costs. The Deputy Commissioner also instructed the Sarpanches to appoint a suitable local resident to manage the libraries, install solar energy systems to ensure electricity supply, and take appropriate measures to address maintenance and repair requirements. Furthermore, he suggested that in villages where limited land is available, arrangements could be made to establish facilities for sports such as basketball, volleyball, and badminton. In addition to the Sarpanches, the meeting was attended by DDPO Kanchanlata, BDPOs Somvir Khatkar, Monika, and Gurmalak; GM Roadways Kuldeep; CMO Poonam Chaudhary; XEN of the Public Health Engineering Department Sanjay Sharma; Gharaunda Municipal Secretary Ravi Prakash; DEO Rohtas Verma; HSAMB SDO Sunil; UHBVN SE Naseeb Singh; XEN Rajiv Dhull; and XEN of Panchayati Raj, Narayan Dutt Sharma, among others.