Culture minister angry over non-payment of bills of cultural artists

*Maharaj made a surprise visit to Directorate of Culture, GMVN Headquarters*

Dehradun. State’s Tourism, Public Works, Irrigation, Panchayati Raj, Rural Works, Watershed, Endowment and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj made a surprise inspection of Directorate of Culture and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam headquarters on Monday, along with warning for prompt payment of pending bills Given that any kind of negligence in work will not be tolerated.

Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj along with Culture Secretary Harishchandra Semwal suddenly reached the Directorate of Culture located at MDDA, Dalanwala at 10:30 am on Monday and expressing displeasure over non-payment of bills pending for months by artistes and cultural parties, demanded immediate payment of bills to Secretary Culture. Along with giving orders, also asked to remove the shortage of employees in the department. It may be known that from April 2022 till now the bills of cultural artists were not being paid.

After this, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj also made a surprise visit to the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Headquarters at Rajpur Road and directed General Manager Vipra Trivedi to pay all pending bills expeditiously.

Mr. Maharaj also ordered the General Manager to get DPC done soon for the employees of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. He said that the liabilities of about 43 crores of all kinds like graduation and arrears etc. of the employees will be resolved soon.

Mr. Maharaj told General Manager Vipra Trivedi that there are many guest houses of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam which are not being used despite being useful, arrangements should be made to get them operated by giving them to the local unemployed. He said that any kind of negligence in the work will not be tolerated.

*Nishith Saklani*
Media Advisor, Mr. Satpal Maharaj, Honorable Cabinet Minister, Government of Uttarakhand.