Karnal, November 7: Disgruntled over the delays in development work files in the district, BJP district councilors staged a massive protest at the Zila Parishad office on Friday. The angry councilors locked the Chief Executive Officer's (CEO) office and shouted slogans against the administration. They allege that the CEO has not been present regularly for months, stalling public work.
Councilors say that development projects worth crores of rupees have been approved in the district, but files have been stuck in the CEO's office for the past three months, and work orders have not been issued. If this situation continues, government funds will be returned, and public development projects will remain incomplete.
**"CEO doesn't come to the office, doesn't give time"
District Councilor Gurdeep Rana said that the CEO is the secretary to the Zila Parishad Chairman, but how can work be done when the secretary is not present in the office? They said that they had tried to meet with the officials several times, but they neither met nor gave any instructions to get the work done. It seemed as if the officials neither cared about the councilors nor the public's problems.
**This was not expected from a top-ranking official.
Councilors stated that IAS officer Sonu Bhatt was sent to Karnal as a "top-ranking official," but his work lacked seriousness. The lack of time to meet with elected representatives was an example of administrative apathy. They said that if officials refuse to communicate with representatives, how will ordinary citizens be heard?
**Development plans stalled, public not receiving benefits
According to councilors, works that were approved nearly eight months ago have still not been started. Due to the non-issuance of work orders, development projects in villages and wards are hanging in the balance. This is preventing the public from receiving the benefits of any scheme, and anger is growing in the panchayats.
**Demand for immediate action from the government
Councilors warned that if the situation does not improve, they will intensify their agitation. He said that if the officer is not up to the task, the government should clearly not give him this charge. The councilors demanded immediate intervention from the Chief Minister and the Panchayati Raj Department to prevent further delays in development work and provide relief to the public.