Stern action against lax officers: UP minister Shivpal Yadav

GONDA: A UP Minister on Thursday said stern action would be taken against lax officials, "however big or small they might be," days after IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal was suspended ostensibly for ordering demolition of wall of a mosque without following the due process.

"You people complain that officials do not listen to you and when we come on the spot and take action against them, then also questions are raised... Now, stern action would be taken against those officials who are lax and not providing justice to the common people, however big or small they might be," UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh.

Asked about the statement of SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav that the centre was free to withdraw all the IAS officers from the state, the minister said, " Samajwadi Party would run the government as per the Constitution, but would take stern action against those officials and employees who do not discharge their duties properly."

The state PWD and irrigation minister also undertook an aerial survey of Elgin-Charsadi and Bhikaripur Sakraur embankments and reviewed the preparations in the flood-affected areas with the district authorities.

He gave an assurance of quick decision on the district administration's proposal of constructing an embankment to protect 52 villages in Tarabganj tehsil.