Patna: The Panchayati Raj Department has instructed all 534 Block Panchayat Raj Officers and Panchayat Secretaries in Bihar to conduct night inspections of solar street lights in the gram panchayats. No officer or employee will be allowed to leave their deputation location, and random video calls will be conducted to ensure compliance. Panchayat Secretaries must stay in the Panchayat Government Buildings or, if unavailable, in private accommodations.
During a review meeting held at the convention building, the Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department directed District Panchayat Raj Officers to expedite progress in implementing schemes under the 15th Finance Commission and the Sixth State Finance Commission. So far, 4,85,776 solar street lights have been installed across the state. All companies involved have been ordered to establish one service station for every 10,000 solar lights, with daily on-site representatives resolving complaints within 72 hours or facing fines. The installation of all solar lights must be completed by June.
The Secretary also instructed the Mukhiya to ensure the completion of 695 Panchayat Government Buildings under construction. Additionally, the deputation of RTPS executive assistants will end. DDCs will conduct weekly reviews, while District Panchayat Raj Officers must conduct daily reviews. Officials Anand Sharma and Preeti Tongaria attended the meeting.
