Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Saturday directed District Collectors to expedite implementation of key government programmes, strengthen anti-drug measures and ensure timely execution of development projects during a statewide review meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan.
The meeting, attended by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, senior departmental secretaries and all District Collectors through video conferencing, reviewed the progress of major schemes being implemented across the state.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Hemant Sharma asked Collectors and Superintendents of Police to strengthen coordinated action against drug abuse and illicit trafficking by holding regular quarterly meetings of District Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) Committees. Districts were also instructed to prepare action plans for 2026-29 under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, focusing on prevention, enforcement, public awareness, treatment and rehabilitation.
Reviewing urban development projects, the Chief Secretary directed Collectors to expedite land identification and resolve land-related issues for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 and Affordable Rental Housing projects. Progress of the AMRUT 2.0 water supply programme was also assessed.
To accelerate industrialisation, officials discussed land bank creation and land approvals for industrial projects. Collectors were asked to speed up land acquisition, resolve local issues, facilitate Gram Sabha approvals and convene regular district-level Single Window Authority Committee meetings to fast-track project clearances.
During the review of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Additional Chief Secretary Vishal Kumar Deb stressed completion of pending telecom infrastructure works under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme, identification of mobile network shadow areas, timely NoCs for mobile towers and mandatory use of the CBUD app before underground utility excavation.
The meeting also reviewed implementation of the Model Solar Village programme under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, with emphasis on promoting household solar energy adoption and strengthening district-level monitoring.
In the health sector, officials reviewed progress under the Ama Hospital scheme and TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 2.0. Collectors were asked to enhance disease surveillance during the monsoon, ensure adequate availability of medicines and strengthen public awareness to prevent water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
Reviewing agriculture programmes, the Chief Secretary directed district administrations to expand technology-based services for farmers, intensify AgriStack registration, prevent fertiliser black marketing and expedite identification of sites for automatic weather stations and rain gauges under the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) project.
The School and Mass Education Department asked Collectors to speed up work under the Ideal Primary School scheme, operationalise newly constructed hostels, complete Aadhaar-linked APAAR ID generation for students and advance heritage school development.
The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department reviewed implementation of the Viksit Gaon Viksit Odisha programme and directed districts to complete pending projects, approve annual action plans without delay and accelerate implementation of the Viksit Bharat–Gramin Rozgar Evam Aajeevika Mission through better inter-departmental coordination and creation of durable rural assets.
