CS Agarwal promises transparent, graft-free administration

Kolkata: Newly appointed chief secretary Manoj Agarwal on Tuesday promised a transparent, corruption-free administration and said BJP govt would begin implementing promises made in the party's ‘Sankalp Patra' within the first 100 days in office.Issuing a strong warning against corruption and administrative misconduct, Agarwal said the new dispensation was committed to building a clean and accountable administration."Yesterday, the CM clearly stated that he wants to establish a free, transparent, clean and corruption-free administration. I will conduct meetings at every level and ensure that this message reaches the entire bureaucracy. If anyone attempts to violate these directives, the strictest possible action will be taken against them," Agarwal said.He said the administration's immediate priority would be to translate BJP's electoral commitments into action. "Within the next 100 days, the promises mentioned in the Sankalp Patra will be fulfilled by the govt," he added.Agarwal identified education and healthcare as the two sectors that would receive top priority under the new govt, though he said a detailed assessment of the existing administrative set-up was needed before specific policy measures could be announced."I have not been part of any govt setup for the last four to five years, so my first task will be to evaluate the present condition of the administration. Only after that can we determine what can be implemented immediately and what needs to be carried out in phases," he said.The chief secretary also sought to reassure people that no existing welfare scheme or ongoing project would be discontinued under the new administration.Chief secy appt based on seniority, says Suvendu: CM Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday defended the appointment of Manoj Agarwal as chief secretary, saying the 1990-batch IAS officer was chosen on the basis of seniority. "He is not just a former CEO, he is also the senior-most additional chief secretary of the state. We, the govt of BJP, are performing as per the law," Adhikari said.Earlier in the day, Trinamool MP Saugata Roy questioned the transparency behind the appointment. "I have nothing personal against him, but it is strange and surprising that the man who was in charge of conducting the elections and looking after the SIR has been made chief secretary," he said.