Karnataka   

ZP members stage walkout

Staff Correspondent

Chitradurga: Protesting against the State Government decision to introduce a package system for zilla panchayat works, members of the Chitradurga Zilla Panchayat staged a walkout at a meeting here on Wednesday. They also staged a dharna in front of the panchayat meeting hall.

Cutting across party lines, panchayat members alleged that the Government with an intention to curtailing the powers of panchayat members was introducing the package system.

According to the Government’s notification, all works under the panchayat limits would now be directly done through the official concerned per se. The panchayat members were of the opinion that the new system would not allow a ny participation of the members in selecting the works. “If all the powers are given to officials, then what is the use of being an elected representative?” asked a panchayat member Tippeswamy.

Before boycotting the meeting, the members unanimously decided not to approve any projects for this financial year. They said that until the Government withdrew the new rule, the panchayat would not approve any projects. Intervening in the matter, zilla panchayat chief executive officer H.P. Prakash requested the members not to take such a decision as it would directly affect the development of the district. He said the Government decision has been opposed by the zilla panchayats across the State. Therefore, the members should not link the issue with the approval of projects. But his appeals did not yield any result as the members staged the walkout.

Earlier, as the meeting began, various development issues were discussed. Debating over an alleged fraud in drip irrigation projects, where officials were said to be involved with private agencies in distributing funds and equipment, MLA G.H. Tippareddy expressed disapproval over it.

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