Karnataka - Bidar   

Heated debate on powers of standing committees

Staff Correspondent

Congress members oppose decision of panel to renovate building

Bidar: Which is more powerful? Zilla panchayat's general body or its standing committees?

There was a heated debate on this matter at the general body meeting of the zilla panchayat here on Monday.

Congress members objected to a decision by the General Standing Committee to spend Rs. 20 lakh from non-plan sector on the renovation of an inspection bungalow in Humnabad taluk. They said the committee should have sought the permission of the general body before granting approval to spend funds. They threatened to pass a resolution curbing the powers of standing committees. Some BJP members supported them.

Congress member Abdul Sattar demanded that funds in the non-plan account left unused should be equally distributed among the members to take up development works.

Some members supported this demand. They sought a ruling from zilla panchayat president Anil Bhusare directing the officials to go ahead with distribution of funds.

Chief Executive Officer Munish Moudgil cautioned against such a step. He said the system of standing committees had been introduced to speed up panchayat administration.

Development works would suffer if the general body demanded that each committee seek its permission before taking any action. This would send a wrong message to the public, he added.

AIPJD member Amrit Chimkod supported Mr. Moudgil's argument. He urged the members not to press for a resolution.

Mr. Moudgil said that he would organise a workshop for zilla panchayat members on the functioning of the Government in July.

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