Ghaziabad: UP government seeks property details of GDA officials, staff

After Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister, he had directed all state government officials to declare their income and assets within 15 days. The CM had also ordered all his ministers to do the same.

To tighten the noose around the corrupt officials and also to ensure adherence of the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1956, the state government has now ordered the officials and staff of all development authorities, including the Ghaziabad development authority (GDA), to declare their moveable and immovable assets by April 6.

After taking charge, the chief minister had also stressed on punctuality in government offices. To enforce this, the GDA has installed seven biometric machines for recording attendance.(Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

After Yogi Adityanath took over as chief minister, he had directed all state government officials to declare their income and assets within 15 days. The CM had also ordered all his ministers to do the same.

“The declaration will be made by all A, B, C and D category employees of the GDA. They have been asked to submit details to the appointing authority. As per our estimates, hardly 10-20 persons submitted details even though the rules state that such details are to be submitted on appointment and every five years thereafter,” said DP Singh, officer on special duty, GDA.

Category ‘A’ employees include top ranked officials up to executive engineers. Category ‘B’ includes officials up to assistant engineer while category ‘C’ includes junior engineers, clerical staff, etc. The authority has nearly 1,200 personnel.

Off and on, there have been allegations of corruption against officials and staff of various authorities in the state. In Noida, former chief engineer of Noida authority Yadav Singh and some other officials are facing charges of corruption and granting favours in contracts.

Former UP chief secretary Neera Yadav was also convicted by a Ghaziabad court in connection with irregular allotment/conversion of plots in Noida while she served in Noida authority.

In his campaign speech at a rally before the assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had come down heavily on corruption in the state and promised a CAG audit of GDA and all development authorities if the BJP is elected to power.

After taking charge, the chief minister had also stressed on punctuality in government offices.

To enforce this, the GDA has installed seven biometric machines for recording attendance. The officials said the attendance system will also be linked to the payroll system so that salary deductions can take place accordingly. The biometric machines were installed but not put to use by the staff during the previous regime.

“These have been put to use on the directions of the government. Staff have to mark attendance before 10am, else they will be marked absent. If any employee comes late for three days, a day of casual leave will be marked. For habitual latecomers, disciplinary action will be taken,” Singh said.