PMK leader to go on fast if local bodies dont get powers

Puducherry, Nov 3 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi Parliamentary party leader M Ramadass today threatened to go on a day's hunger strike on November six if steps to devolve powers to elected representatives to Municipalities and Panchayats were not taken forthwith.

In a memorandum submitted to Lt Governor Mukut Mithi, he urged his intervention to impress upon Chief Minister N Rangaswamy to take all necessary legal and administrative action to transfer powers as envisaged by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments.

Prof Ramadass said the local body elections were held in the Union Territory after a gap of 38 years and the administration should have been magnanimous enough to pass necessary legislation in the Assembly providing for transfer of 29 functions to panchayats and 18 functions to urban local bodies.

Presently, elected representatives at the grassroot level had no functions or powers to satisfy the immediate needs of the community.

UNI PAB AA BDP RS1824