New Delhi: Underlining the urgency to fight corruption in public life, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said it is the right time to move decisively in this direction.

“Our efforts for rapid progress and development can have their full impact only if we curb corruption in public life and improve the processes of governance. I believe this is the right time to move decisively in this direction,” Singh said addressing the two-day Conference of Governors.

The Prime Minister promised that his government will “do its utmost to improve transparency and accountability” in the work of public authorities and is committed to taking all possible measures to “curb corruption in administration” and deliver governance to citizens.

Singh mentioned the Lokpal bill among the measures his government was taking in this direction.

The Prime Minister said the government was also working for enacting a law to bring more transparency and accountability in the procurement systems.

“Apart from the Lokpal bill, a bill to amend the Land Acquisition Act has also been introduced in Parliament,” he said.

Addressing Governors and Lt Governors at the conference which concluded in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said he expected the state governments also to act similarly so that these efforts touch all levels of governance in all parts of the country.