Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday asked district collectors to keep themselves away from the “shadow of corruption” and made it clear that he would not tolerate if the government’s image is tarnished by unethical practices.
Addressing the two-day annual District Collector-SP joint conference here, he issued several instructions to the DCs with a strong warning on corruption.
“The state government will certainly provide all support to district collectors, but will not tolerate corruption, negligence and inefficiencies. I will not tolerate it at all if the government’s image is tarnished due to the corrupt practice of officers at whatever level,” Majhi said.
“It has been noticed that some young officers and toppers of UPSC and OPSC indulged in corruption, notwithstanding their long career ahead. Our government adopts zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said.
The chief minister noted that the state’s anti-corruption vigilance wing is in “super active” mode and doing its best to eliminate corruption. “Please keep yourself away from the shadow of corruption,” Majhi said.
While expressing concern over the reports of “irregular” trade of minor minerals across the state, the chief minister asked the district collectors to treat such incidents as “organised crimes” and take strong action against the offenders.
“Use modern technology like drone to regularise the trade on minor minerals in the state,” he suggested.
He also warned the district collectors to be accountable to death of any person due to consumption of illicit liquor or hooch tragedy.
“We have zero tolerance on the illegal liquor trade. If any person dies by consuming illicit liquor, the collector and SP of the district be held responsible. They must enforce the law along with the officials of excise department,” the chief minister said.
Majhi said the state government has launched a mission under which the people across the country will have access to drinking water, electricity and roads.
“Please write it down on your notebook that the mission must be accomplished by 2027. It is the responsibility of the collectors to coordinate all departments and implement the mission,” he said.
He said that the tribals, who constitute around 23 per cent of the state’s population, should get their rights and there should be no harassment of the community by forest officials.
The chief minister said that the collectors have a big role to play in shaping the state’s economy and meeting its goal of becoming a “Viksit Odisha” by 2036.
“The state is now transforming from an agricultural-based economy to a mixed economy. Therefore, the collectors have big roles in infusing new agriculture and diversification of crops and setting up industries across districts,” he said and expected that the district collectors would help facilitate industries in their regions.
The chief minister also urged collectors to increase field visits, actively engage with citizens, and prioritise grievance redressal at the district level.
He also suggested the district authorities to use technology for efficient administration and wider dissemination of government initiatives through social media.
Among other suggestions, the chief minister told collectors to ensure that the Odia language is widely used in the administration and publish notices in Odia.
He asked them to spread government information widely through digital platforms, review and minimise outsourcing practices at state and district levels, show due respect to elected representatives visiting government offices and identify non-performing staff and replace them.
The conference was also addressed by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Development Commissioner Anu Garg.
Meanwhile, the opposition BJD attacked the BJP government, alleging that the state has failed to check the rising illegal trade of minor minerals.
“There is large-scale smuggling of minerals in the state. This is evident from the fact that the state could generate only Rs 600 crore from the sector in 2024-25 fiscal against Rs 1485 crore in 2023-24,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said.
The BJP came to power in the state in June 2024.
Mohanty noted that a few months after the BJP came to power, five people died in Ganjam district due to consuming spurious liquor, but the government has not been successful in stopping the illegal trade.
“The CM mentioned that the investment proposals were worth Rs 17 lakh crore. In reality, not a single brick has been laid in the field of industrial development in the state. On the other hand, many industrial institutions that signed up for investment during the previous BJD government have left the state after the BJP government came to power,” he claimed.
PTI