Public interest paramount; law and order will improve with vigilance and dialogue: Chief Minister

Lucknow : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, reaffirmed that public interest remains the cornerstone of governance, directing officials to uphold law and order through vigilance, alertness, and continuous dialogue.

Reviewing the state’s law and order, public grievance redressal, and festival preparations with with senior government officials, including Divisional Commissioners, Zone and Police Commissionerates, Ranges, and district authorities, he stressed timely intervention to prevent minor disputes from escalating.

He also instructed local police to act immediately on disputes, even in the absence of a formal complaint, to ensure peace and harmony across the state.

In view of sensitive upcoming events—Ganga Dussehra (June 5), Bakrid (June 7), and the Jagannath Rath Yatra (June 24)—Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed heightened vigilance across the state. District Magistrates and Police Superintendents were instructed to review past incidents, identify individuals involved in unlawful activities such as illegal animal slaughter, disruptions to tradition, or inciting disorder, and take preventive action.

The Chief Minister emphasized strong coordination with peace committees at the police station, tehsil, and district levels. Uninterrupted traffic flow must be ensured, and regular foot patrols maintained around religious sites to preserve public order, he added.

Furthermore, he ordered identification of designated places for sacrificial activities on Bakrid, strictly prohibiting sacrifice elsewhere. He directed officials to ensure complete ban on the slaughter of prohibited animals. Each district must have a well-organized system for waste disposal after sacrificial rituals. Namaz should be performed only at traditional sites and must not obstruct roadways. Faith should be respected but new traditions should not be encouraged, he said.

The Chief Minister, noting the recent cases of bird flu, directed heightened vigilance and strict adherence to all safety protocols. He also instructed authorities to raise public awareness about the dangers of disposing of dead animals in rivers.

He emphasized that illegal slaughterhouses must not be allowed to operate under any circumstances, and that licensed slaughterhouses should not exceed their prescribed animal capacity. The sale of meat in open areas must be prohibited. Proper facilities for green fodder, water, and other necessities must be ensured in destitute cow shelters.

He further directed that immediate action be taken in case of power disruptions caused by strong winds or storms, emphasizing that power supply should be maintained without interruption.

The Chief Minister noted that human civilization has historically flourished along riverbanks, making the revival of these lifelines essential. Highlighting that every district in Uttar Pradesh is home to at least one river, he cited the successful rejuvenation of the Noon River in Jalaun as a model for others.

He directed that this year’s plantation campaign be strategically aligned with river restoration efforts.
In preparation for the Ganga Dussehra festival, he directed that the ghats of the Ganga River be cleaned and decorated. A cleanliness drive should be conducted on June 4, followed by evening aarti and other celebrations on June 5. Designated bathing areas should be marked on the ghats. Vigilance teams, including divers, PAC flood units, NDRF, and SDRF, should be deployed for security and safety.

For World Environment Day on June 5, the Chief Minister called for tree plantations under the theme ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree Dedicated to Mother). He emphasized the participation of all public representatives, including MPs and MLAs.

While reviewing preparations for the 11th International Yoga Day on June 21, the Chief Minister directed that master trainers be trained and deployed to districts as per the Government of India’s yoga protocol. He emphasized that the main event, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, must be broadcast live at all locations. The Urban and Rural Development Departments were instructed to conduct cleanliness drives and launch public awareness campaigns to ensure widespread citizen participation.

Expressing concern over road accidents, the Chief Minister emphasized that ignorance of traffic rules is the primary cause of such incidents. He called for improvements in road engineering, proper signage, and the installation of speed breakers where needed. He also directed the immediate removal of illegal bus and auto stands. To ensure accountability, he instructed that a thorough audit of road accidents be conducted. Additionally, the Chief Minister ordered the formation of Civil Defense Units in all districts.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister evaluated the public hearing system. While commending well-performing officers, he issued strict directives to underperformers to improve. He reiterated that maintaining law and order, along with a responsive grievance redressal system, remains a top priority. Complaints received through the Integrated Grievance Redress System (IGRS) and the Chief Minister’s Helpline must be resolved promptly and satisfactorily.

The Chief Minister stressed that making the public hearing system more effective requires not only the disposal of complaints, but also ensuring the complainant’s satisfaction as the ultimate measure of success. He mandated communication with every applicant before closing their case. Where necessary, field inspections must be conducted. Furthermore, he directed that all officers hold public hearings in their offices on working days and ensure the deployment of Public Grievance Officers across all departments and offices.