Red Tape: CM Asks Officials To Simplify Business Rules

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to overhaul the state's Business Rules to eliminate unnecessary procedures and accelerate governance through technology, as development should not be delayed in the name of file clearances.

Reviewing citizen services delivered by various departments and the availability of urea at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) centre in the secretariat, the chief minister instructed officials to constitute a committee to redraw the Business Rules.

“Let us introduce reforms that provide greater flexibility for tapping emerging opportunities,” he said.

Naidu stressed the need for proactive governance, saying effective leadership by senior officials was essential to ensure that the benefits of government programmes reached the last person. He also noted that AP’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) had registered a 20 per cent growth compared to 2017.

Reviewing the services offered by the endowments, roads and buildings, APSRTC, transport, fire services and agriculture departments, the chief minister called for continuous monitoring of citizen satisfaction and improvement in service delivery.

Naidu directed the endowments department to enhance the quality of ‘prasadam’ and strengthen the spiritual ambience at temples. Stating that 21 major temples in the state possess immense potential, he said they should be developed into growth centres to spur economic activity and tourism.

The Chief Minister also ordered the adoption of crowd-sourcing to gather information on public grievances and said every petitioner must receive a proper response. The fire services department must improve service standards, he said, and directed officials to create awareness through farmers' organisations and Rythu Seva Kendras on the proper use of urea, while also preventing its misuse.

Emphasising a humane approach to grievance redressal, Naidu said mistakes by field-level officials tarnish the government's image. He called for better passenger amenities at bus stations and strict adherence to bus schedules.

Referring to land issues, the Chief Minister alleged that the previous government had placed several lands under Section 22-A out of sheer political vendetta. Some 27 lakh pattadar passbooks had already been issued, while another 72 lakh remained to be distributed.

Resolving the Shettipalli land dispute had not only addressed farmers' problems but also helped bring government land worth `900 crore back into the public fold, he said, urging officials to unlock similar opportunities.

Naidu asked departments to resolve all petitions, including those received through the Public Grievance Redressal System, with compassion and speed, and analyse grievance trends to assess whether effective governance was reducing complaints.

The Chief Minister also released the RTGS monthly magazine, Governance That Never Sleeps. Minister Kolusu Parthasaradhi participated in the meeting by online mode, while chief secretary Sai Prasad, DGP Harish Gupta and senior officials spoke.