Pondy: Municipal councillors federation formed

Puducherry, Aug 1: Councillors of the Puducherry municipality have formed a federation under the banner of 'Puducherry municipal councillors federation.' The federation comprises Mathi alias Venkatesan as the organiser, A Manjini, assistant and C Pavadai as treasurer.

Addressing a press conference here today, office-bearers of the Federation regretted that even after the local body elections held more than one year ago, the administration had failed to devolve powers to them.

Alleging irregularities in the distribution of application forms for several welfare schemes, they demanded that the forms be distributed through the municipal councillors.

There should be space for the signature of municipal councillors and village panchayat presidents in the form as that of legislators and parliament members, they said adding that NOC for construction of houses by the town and country planning department be given only on their recommendations and the legislators should allocate their area development funds to undertake works through the councillors.

Also the PWD-NMRs and mazdoors should be brought under the control of the councillors, they said and sought provision of an office and telephone facilities and travelling allowance to them with retrospective effect from August one 2006.

UNI