District Magistrate Reaches Out to People: Marathon Public Hearing in Rishikesh Resolves 326 Grievances On the Spot
Dehradun: Demonstrating the administration’s firm commitment to responsive governance under the guidance of the Chief Minister, District Magistrate Savin Bansal chaired an extensive public hearing at the Rishikesh Tehsil परिसर on Monday, where a massive turnout of citizens was witnessed.
The non-stop public hearing continued for over 5 hours and 30 minutes, lasting until 7:30 pm, during which more than 326 complainants presented their grievances. The District Magistrate patiently heard each case and ensured on-the-spot resolution of most complaints, while clear, time-bound instructions were issued to concerned officials for pending matters.
Public Interest First: Officials Directed to Act with Sensitivity
Addressing the gathering, the District Magistrate stated that under the Chief Minister’s leadership, the district administration is fully committed to ensuring swift and effective redressal of public grievances. He emphasized that citizens’ issues must be addressed with seriousness, empathy, and urgency.
“A strong dialogue between the public and the administration accelerates development and strengthens trust,” the DM said, directing officials to adopt a humane and solution-oriented approach.
Surge in Social Welfare Complaints; Immediate Posting of Assistant Officer
In view of the large number of complaints related to social welfare schemes in Rishikesh, the District Magistrate ordered the immediate deployment of an Assistant Social Welfare Officer (ADO) to expedite resolution of pension and welfare-related issues.
Strict Action Ordered Against Illegal Meat Shops and Slaughtering
Responding to complaints about illegally operating meat shops and unauthorized slaughtering despite prohibitions, the District Magistrate directed the Municipal Commissioner and SDM Rishikesh to conduct joint raids along with the Food Safety Officer and take stringent action against violators.
Probe Ordered into De-addiction Centre Complaints
Residents of Jogiwala raised concerns regarding disturbances caused by a de-addiction centre. The DM instructed the SDM to conduct a thorough inquiry and ensure strict action against the centre if violations are found.
Relief for Elderly Citizens and Widows
Eighty-year-old Maniram, along with senior citizens Dharamraj Singh Pundir and Vimla Devi, sought relief in property-related disputes. The District Magistrate referred their cases to the District Legal Services Authority to provide free legal aid and counsel.
In another case, Anita, a widow from Bhatowala, reported harassment by a cooperative bank despite her deceased husband’s loan being insured. The bank had issued notices even in the names of her minor children. Taking serious note, the DM directed officials to ensure settlement of the insurance claim and initiate recovery proceedings against the bank, providing immediate relief to the aggrieved family.
Electricity Theft, Dilapidated Poles, and Water Billing Under Scrutiny
Municipal councillors raised complaints about electricity theft in UPCL residential quarters and the poor condition of several electric poles. The DM ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
Complaints regarding excessive water bills in 17 newly merged rural wards of Rishikesh prompted the DM to direct the Executive Engineer to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.
Immediate Directions on Civic Infrastructure
Key civic issues addressed during the hearing included:
-
Sewer line construction on Hiralal Road
-
Construction of a women’s public toilet on Railway Road
-
Establishment of shelters for stray cattle
-
Repair of damaged irrigation canals in Garhi and Bhalla Farm areas
-
Action against illegal blocking of government access roads
Education, Traffic, and Cattle Shelter Issues Highlighted
District Panchayat Member Divya Belwal raised concerns over shortage of teachers at Government Inter College Satya Mitranand, traffic signal issues in Raiwala main market, and the absence of cattle shelters. The District Magistrate issued immediate instructions to concerned departments.
Public Hearing Becomes a Beacon of Hope
Issues such as land registry irregularities, encroachments, land fraud, sewerage, street utilities, and social pension schemes dominated the proceedings.
The public hearing was attended by Rishikesh MLA Premchand Aggarwal, Mayor Shambhu Paswan, Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah, CMO Dr. M.K. Sharma, SDM Yogesh Mehra, Municipal Commissioner Gopal Ram Binwal, and senior officers from all departments.
