Assembly passes local bodies bills

Puducherry, Dec 18 (UNI) The Puducherry legislative assembly today passed the Puducherry Municipalities (Amendement) Bill 2006 and Puducherry Village and Commune Panchayats (Amendement) Bill 2006, envisaging the devolution of powers to the elected representatives of the local bodies here.

Replying to a debate allowed on the subject Chief Minister N Rangasamy said the administration, after a gap of 38 years, had conducted the local body elections in the Union Territory to fullfill the late Rajiv Gandhi's dreams of Panchayati Raj.

''Because of the huge gap, certain confusion prevails here and the intention of the government is to remove the confusion,'' he said, adding, the amendments would envisage the devolution of powers to the elected local body representatives.

The Chief Minister said these views and all other aspects would properly be examined and steps would be taken for the devolution of powers so that no problem would crop up in future. He said the administration is to ensure the all round development of the union territory and to take part and express their views is the rights of the legislators and it is not proper on the part of the legislators to boycott the session. He also appealed to the Karaikal members who are boytcotting the seession to take part in it.

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