UP govt.abolishes posts of deputy mayor, vice-chairman of panchayat

Lucknow, July 5 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today decided to abolish post of deputy mayor of urban local bodies and vice-chairman of the panchayats to prevent irregularities and horse-trading during indirect elections.

The government has also abolished senior and junior block pramukh posts with immediate effect.

The decision to abolish the four posts were taken in a state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Mayawati.

According to sources, the decision to abolish the posts were made to prevent horse-trading during their indirect elections by the members of the local bodies and to create more transparency in their functioning.

Earlier, the state election commission had recommended dates for holding of the elections for deputy mayors, vice-chairmen of the panchayats and of the senior and junior block pramukhs.

In another decision, the state cabinet approved procedure and guidelines for privatisation and disinvestment of Joint Ventures of all projects under Private Public Participation(PPP) in the state.

The guidelines were framed on the suggestion from central government, World Bank and Consultant Evaulation Committee while the newly set up Department of Infrastructure Development will monitor the the entire process.

Sources said that the guidelines will create more transparency in PPP and will end the loopholes.

UNI