The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : More MLAs may join UDF: Thankachan

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011
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More MLAs may join UDF: Thankachan

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: United Democratic Front convener P.P. Thankachan on Monday hinted that the 72-MLA-strong Oommen Chandy government would soon get a shot in the arm with a few more MLAs joining the front.

“The number of MLAs will rise from 72 to 75 soon,” Mr. Thankachan told a meeting of the Congress' elected representatives at various levels of administration in Ernakulam district. The meeting — attended by panchayat presidents, municipal chairpersons, block and district panchayat members, MLAs, MPs and Ministers from the district — hailed Mr. Thankachan's announcement. Mr. Thankachan, however, did not give out details of who the MLAs were and which party they belonged to.

Mr. Thankachan said the UDF government, as part of decentralising governance, planned to give more powers to the panchayats, municipalities and other local self-government bodies. They would also be given more Plan funds.

There would be sharper focus on solid waste management at the panchayat and municipality levels with more projects funded by the Centre. Water and power supplies would get more priority as the government wanted all the panchayat wards in the State to get piped water and electricity by the end of the five-year term of the UDF government.

The current building rules would be amended in order to remove bottlenecks in building houses. Local bodies would get back their right to decide if they needed a liquor shop in their territories.

Mr. Thankachan said the allowances of members of all the local bodies such as the panchayats and municipalities as well as their heads would be enhanced as currently their drew a pittance as allowance.

There was also a plan to consider pensions for local bodies' functionaries.

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