Bengal CM Suvendu stresses accountability, transparency in first administrative meeting

KOLKATA, May 11: West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari on Monday asked senior officials to ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to rules in governance, a well-placed source said.
A day after assuming office as the BJP’s first chief minister in the state, Adhikari chaired his first administrative review meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna.
During the meeting, Adhikari told officials not to repeatedly mention “By the inspiration of the chief minister” in every official matter to please him.
“By the inspiration of the chief minister” was a phrase present in almost all government announcements during the chief ministership of Mamata Banerjee.
“There is no need to use phrases like ‘Chief Minister’s inspiration’ at every step,” Adhikari was quoted as saying by a source present at the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh and secretaries and principal secretaries of all departments.
Adhikari also stressed that officers would be held accountable for lapses in their respective departments and warned against unnecessary expenditures.
”You can spend where necessary, but there should be no wastage of public money,” the chief minister told officials, according to sources.
Adhikari also made it clear that the government would function by giving officers their due dignity and space to work professionally.
At the same time, any proven complaint against an official would invite action.
“If any allegation against an officer is proved, action will be taken,” he told officials.(PTI)