The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : `Give more powers to ZPs'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

`Give more powers to ZPs'

Staff Correspondent

Govt. reluctant to part with authority, says panchayat President

MANGALORE: "Zilla panchayats have ceased to be an effective body of governance in the decentralised system of administration under the Panchayat Raj Act," the President of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, Somanath, has said. The change in rules and the increasing tendency of the Government and elected representatives to retain power has sidelined the body, he added.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday to highlight the works taken up during his 20-month tenure, Mr. Somanath urged the State Government to restore powers to the panchayat. "Even we zilla panchayat members have to implement the assurances given to our electorate and it is not possible under the present system," he said.

Noting that the powers of the zilla panchayat members are limited, he said many of them do not have an answer when people in their constituencies seek an explanation for the poor state of roads or a dysfunctional drinking water scheme.

Asked if he supports the full tenure of five years for Presidents of zilla panchayats, Mr. Somanath said that under the present power-sharing arrangement, it is meaningless. "The Government does not give us any special grants, and most resolutions passed by us are not honoured by the officials," he added.

Administrative powers

Bharath Mundodi, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health and Education, said it is imperative for the Government to provide financial and administrative powers to the zilla panchayat. Besides, the panchayats should have powers to make changes in programmes to suit local needs.

Stressing the need for planning at the district level, he said panchayats should have the powers to make changes in the link documents to suit local needs and to ensure effective implementation of projects.

Presently, the members do not have the freedom to change any project. Whether they like it or not, these projects are implemented according to the guidelines laid down in the link document. Nobody bothers to consult us while framing the guidelines, he said and added that the "top-down" model of planning should be dispensed with in the larger interests of the people.

When pointed out that these issues could have been brought to the notice of the Government, he said the panchayat has done its best in this regard.

Referring to the taluk-level task forces set up by the State Government and headed by MLAs to take steps to mitigate the water crisis this summer, Mr. Somanath alleged that the MLAs had forced the Government to give them powers to take decisions in this regard.

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