Udupi: MLAs will now consider the opinion of zilla panchayat members while using additional grant for rural roads. The decision was taken at the special general body meeting of Udupi Zilla Panchayat here on Monday.

Bhujanga Shetty, Member, said the Government circular on disbursal of additional grant for rural roads had overlooked the zilla panchayat.

The money was being released under the head of zilla panchayat, but the allocation was being made to individual Assembly constituencies. This constituted a breach of privilege of zilla panchayat members, he alleged.

The Government should be urged to give zilla panchayat members to say in the disbursal of additional grants. If the Government did not agree with the contention of the zilla panchayat, then the issue should be solved legally, he said. Member Janardhan Tonse supported Mr. Shetty.

Gerald Fernandes, Member, said that since the issue involved disbursal of additional grants, the zilla panchayat should not oppose it. B.N. Shankar Poojary, zilla panchayat president, said the panchayat did not intend to say that money should not be given to MLAs for improving their constituencies.

MLA Raghupati Bhat said it would create problems if the panchayat passed a resolution against the circular. "There cannot be a separate rule for Udupi district. There is no problem if the money is allotted constituency-wise. Ultimately, it goes to the benefit of the people," he said.

Resolution

MLA Jayaprakash Hegde said the zilla panchayat should understand that MLAs would not use the additional grants for personal use. They would back the panchayat if it sought more funds, but not if it passed a resolution against the circular, he said.

MLA Srinivas Shetty said if Panchayat Raj Act and decentralisation was followed, gram panchayats should be deciding on the disbursal of money for development works.

Following the discussion, it was decided that the MLAs should take the zilla panchayat members into confidence on the issue.

When Santosh Kumar, Member, sought to know about the suspension of a Block Education Officer in Karkala taluk, the DDPI in-charge Nagendra

Madhyastha said that he had learnt about the issue from newspapers. The orders had not reached the DDPI Office, he said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zilla Panchayat R. Shantharaj said the Department of Public Instruction should have brought the matter to his notice.

Vice President of Zilla Panchayat Sharada Bijur was present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail