Panchayat Presidents' fast "unwarranted": minister

Puducherry, July 12 (UNI) Describing the fast undertaken by the coordinator of village Panchayat Presidents at Sriperambadhur as 'unwarranted', Puducherry Local Administration Minister Malladi Krishna Rao today said the administration had set up a committee to study and recommend the issue of devolving powers to the elected local body representatives.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Rao said the committee headed by retired IAS officer Ramanathan was appointed on July 2 and powers would be devolved to them once the government received the report from the committee. Already 18 functions were allotted to the Village Panchayats, he added.

Mr Rao said the allocation for the 98 village Panchayats was enhanced to Rs four crore from the Rs 2.4 crore last year and another Rs 1.5 crore was earmarked for the computerisation works in the panchayats. The administration would soon appoint executive officers for the Panchayats, he said adding a travelling allowance of Rs 1,000 for President, Rs 750 for Vice-president and Rs 500 for village Panchayat Members were being given. The village panchayat had the powers to spent up to Rs one lakh for developmental works without government permission, Mr Rao said .

He said the commune panchayats could spend upto Rs 10 lakh presently from the previous Rs three lakh without the government's permission. A travelling allowance of Rs 3,000 to the commune panchayat presidents, Rs 2,000 to the vice-president and Rs 1,000 to the councillors were being given presently. He also said the financial power of the municipalities were enhanced from Rs five lakh to Rs 10 lakh. A vehicle was provided to the Chairman while the Vice Chairman would get Rs 3,000 per month as travelling allowance and the councillors, Rs 2,000. A sum of Rs 47.08 crore was allotted to the municipalities last year and Rs 40.55 crore sanctioned for this year, Mr Rao said.

UNI