THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kollam development authorities are being wound up with effect from Sunday.

Local Self-Government Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty said here on Saturday that under the orders issued for the purpose the role of these development authorities would be played by the respective city corporations. The Idukki Development Authority had already been handed over to the Idukki District Panchayat.

The Minister pointed out that the district development authorities were set up when the Local Self-Government Institutions were not functioning effectively. The LSGIs were handling the work that was being done by the development authorities very well now. The development authorities were no longer relevant. They were also inactive. There was no point in keeping such bodies alive.

The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments bestowed vast powers on the LSGIs. The development authorities were often found to be intruding into their area and their was a persistent demand for bringing to an end their parallel activity. The Sen Committee too had made such a recommendation. The previous Left Democratic Front Government had decided to wind up the development authorities in a phased manner. On the basis of that decision, the Kasaragod, Kannur, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Palakkad development authorities had been dissolved. The Government proposed to evaluate the functioning of the Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi development authorities. An appropriate decision on their fate would be taken after that.

The Minister said the employees would not lose their job because of the dissolution of the authorities. Development wings would be set up in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kolam corporations where they would be accommodated.

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