Pondicherry: Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar asked the newly elected municipal councillors of Pondicherry to ensure that the Union Territory showed the way forward in municipal administration.

Speaking to the newly elected chairpersons of the Pondicherry Municipal Council, B. Sridevi and Oulgaret Municipality, N.S.J. Jayabal and their councillors immediately on his arrival at Raj Nivas (where he stayed for a while before leaving for Thanjavur) on Friday, he said that he was glad that Pondicherry had elected municipal bodies after several years.

He said that its characteristic features and the long tradition would definitely enable it to emerge a leader in municipal administration and realise the dream of the late

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The two-tier system marked by the communes and village panchayats offered good scope for Pondicherry to have an ideal municipal administration.

He accepted the invitation extended to him by the Pondicherry PCC leader, P. Shanmugham, to address a joint meeting of all the councillors on September 24 or 27.

Mr. Aiyar said that the meeting would also enable the participants to have an activity map finalised.

He said that Karnataka and Kerala were performing well in the municipal administration and Pondicherry could also emulate these examples and also make greater progress.

Mr. Aiyar said that he would depute a team of officers before his visit under the head of Joint Secretary to the Panchayati Raj Ministry, T.R. Ragunandhan, who was also present. Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar also asked the councillors to acquaint themselves with all details of their powers, responsibilities and privileges and also the subjects highlighted in the 11th and 12th Schedules of the Constitution. He felt that there should be smooth administration so that the civic bodies could establish infrastructural facilities and other amenities.

Earlier on his arrival at Raj Nivas, Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi, the PCC chief, the general secretary of the PCC, A. Gandhiraj, the chairmen of Pondicherry and Oulgaret municipalities and municipal councillors gave him a warm reception.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy met Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar before the latter left Pondicherry.

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