Karnataka - Dharwad   

Protest against move to curtail powers of zilla panchayats

Staff Correspondent

Demand to increase grants for the panchayati raj body

Making a plea: Members of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat staging a dharna in Dharwad on Thursday.

DHARWAD: Members of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat staged a dharna in front of the office of the zilla panchayat here on Thursday after locking it in protest against the Government’s “move” to curtail the powers of zilla panchayats.

The protest was led by zilla panchayat president Sudha Lingaraddi and vice-president Nijanagouda Patil. It was in response to a call for agitation given by the Karnataka Zilla Panchayat Presidents and Vice-presidents Association.

The zilla panchayat members alleged that the Government was curtailing the powers vested with them. They contended that there was no need for getting approval from the Chief Engineer once the Action Plan was approved in the general body meeting of the zilla panchayat.

They urged the Government to continue to vest powers with the zilla panchayat according to the guidelines of the 12th Finance Commission (Maintenance) 2006-07.

Their other demands included increase in grants for zilla panchayats and allowing presidents of zilla panchayats to participate in meetings of the State Planning Committee. Only officials are being invited to the meeting now.

The association has threatened to go on a relay strike if the Government failed to consider their demands.

Sirsi Correspondent writes:

President of Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat Damodar Gardikar and other members locked the zilla panchayat office at Karwar on Thursday and held a dharna in protest against the “move” to curtail the powers of the local body.

If the Government did not withdraw the move to curtail the powers of the local body, all zilla panchayat members would tender resignation, Mr Gardikar said.

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

Stories in this Section

Music festival in memory of Mallikarjun Mansur
Protest against move to curtail powers of zilla panchayats
Bank registers 24 p.c. growth in first quarter

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu