ANIL VIJ SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO OFFICIALS: NEGLIGENCE IN ADDRESSING PUBLIC GRIEVANCES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; STRICT ACTION TO FOLLOW

Face2News/Ambala Cantt

Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij, taking cognisance of a complaint related to the Energy Department during a public grievance hearing in Ambala Cantt, ordered the transfer of XEN Harish Goyal from Ambala. Reprimanding the Electrical Inspector in connection with the matter, he made it clear that negligence in any case would not be tolerated. Sh. Vij was hearing public grievances at the PWD Rest House in Ambala Cantt on Thursday

A resident of Ambala Cantt submitted a complaint to Energy Minister Anil Vij alleging that XEN Harish Goyal of the Energy Department in Ambala City had provided an LT (Low Tension) electricity connection to the occupants of Jaggi City Centre. However, the connection was allegedly also being used to supply electricity to tractors, trolleys and other equipment, with a kiosk operating at the site. Similarly, swings had been installed there and an electricity connection had been provided to operate them, which the complainant alleged was illegal.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, Energy Minister Anil Vij sought details from Discoms officials regarding the action taken so far. However, the officials were unable to provide a clear response. The Minister reprimanded the SE and other officials of the Discom present at the hearing and ordered the transfer of XEN Harish Goyal. He also strongly reprimanded the Electrical Inspector over the phone for failing to act effectively in the matter.

In another case, a woman lodged a complaint against Bride Public School in village Bada, Ambala district. She alleged that despite the school being recognised only up to Class 8, students were being admitted to Class 10 and money was being collected from them, putting two crucial academic years of the children’s lives at risk. The complaint was filed by a resident of Sundar Nagar. Taking serious note of the matter, Sh. Vij directed the SDM to conduct an investigation along with officials of the concerned Education Department. He instructed that strict action be taken if any irregularities were found.

During the hearing, a resident of Ambala City complained that he had been cheated of ₹9 lakh through cyber fraud. The Energy Minister directed the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that those responsible were apprehended.

In another case, a resident of Milap Nagar, Ambala Cantt, stated that while searching for a phone number on the internet, he spoke to a person who asked him to open a link on his mobile phone. Subsequently, more than ₹3.40 lakh was withdrawn from his bank account. Acting on the complaint, Sh. Vij immediately directed the concerned police officials to take prompt action. He also advised the complainant that in such cases, the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 can be dialled to report cyber fraud and seek assistance.

Meanwhile, a woman from Boh alleged that her husband’s body had been found among bushes in a field in Boh some time ago, but the police had not taken concrete action in the case. She suspected that her husband had been murdered, whereas the police were treating the death as a natural one. Energy Minister Anil Vij directed the police to reopen the investigation and examine the matter again.

Acting on another complaint, Sh. Vij reprimanded Municipal Council officials over the lack of development work in Ward No. 27. He directed that a notice be issued to the concerned contractor and that the contractor be blacklisted. He further stated that if the contractor failed to complete the work, fresh tenders should be invited.

Reprimanding the Municipal Council’s XEN, Sh. Vij instructed officials to assess the financial capacity of contractors before awarding contracts, pointing out that contracts were often awarded to contractors with inadequate financial resources. He also directed Municipal Council officials to submit a comprehensive report on the status of all development works.

Similarly, Sh. Vij sought details from Municipal Council officials regarding the installation of a lift in a parking facility constructed in Ambala Cantt. Expressing displeasure over the delay, he reprimanded the concerned XEN and directed that the work be completed as soon as possible. He also said that “My name is Anil Vij, and I have an X-ray machine in my brain,” he remarked, expressing frustration that officials had made a mockery of these development works. He questioned what action the officials had taken in their capacity as government servants. He directed them to submit a report on the matter by the next public grievance hearing.

Sh. Vij stated that he had secured government approval for development funds of ₹1 crore for each ward in Ambala Cantt. He further informed that ₹20 crore had been approved for concretisation of the Mahesh Nagar drain and that work on the project would commence shortly.

During the hearing, a resident raised an objection to the installation of a power transmission tower on his land in an industrial area in Saha for the establishment of a power house. The Minister directed the concerned officials to visit the site and identify an alternative location for the tower.

Directions were also issued to the concerned officials regarding complaints related to an increase in electricity load and the provision of 24-hour electricity supply in Rampur, Sarehri, Chandrapuri and Sundar Nagar. In a case concerning the promotion of a superintendent of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam in Karnal, the Minister directed the matter to be taken up with senior officials.

He also issued directions to the SE in Sonipat regarding the release of a private property, officials in Hisar regarding a tubewell electricity connection, and the concerned authorities for checking electricity loads and resolving other power-related complaints. Instructions were also issued to officials to address issues related to property encroachment in Harinagar, payment of house tax and installation of a transformer at the appropriate location.

During the public grievance hearing, a woman councillor thanked Energy Minister Anil Vij, stating that the embankment constructed along the Tangri River had prevented floodwater from reaching the Rampur-Sarehri area. She also expressed gratitude for the boundary wall constructed to protect the industrial area from floodwaters.

Meanwhile, several vendors associated with the Energy Department met Sh. Vij during the hearing to discuss the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. They stated that the scheme was being adopted by beneficiaries in Haryana at a faster pace than in Punjab, crediting the coordination maintained by Haryana’s electricity officials and their prompt response in resolving implementation-related issues.

The vendors thanked Sh. Vij and stated that Ambala ranked second in Haryana in the implementation of the scheme. Responding to them, Sh. Vij said that efforts would be made to take Haryana to the number one position nationally in implementing the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

On a complaint regarding unauthorised construction in Arya Nagar, Ambala Cantt, the Minister reprimanded Municipal Council officials and directed them to take action with police assistance to stop the unauthorised work. He also instructed the police to take action in a theft case reported in Patel Nagar.

Speaking to the media after hearing public grievances, Minister Anil Vij said that he had listened to people’s problems in Ambala Cantt and had tried to ensure that every issue was resolved on the spot. Wherever directions to officials were necessary for resolving complaints, appropriate orders had been issued. He added that officials had also been directed to investigate cases requiring further scrutiny.

SDM Kanika Goyal, Municipal Council Chairperson Swarn Kaur, Vice-Chairperson Lalita Prasad, BJP leaders Kiranpal Chauhan, Jasbir Singh Jassi, Madan Lal, Ajay Baweja and B.S. Bindra, along with a large number of BJP office-bearers, were present during the public grievance hearing.