Demand for power devolution to civic bodies

Puducherry, Oct 23 (UNI) Puducherry State Village Panchayat Presidents Co-ordinating Federation today urged the administration to take steps for devolution of powers to the civic bodies, including financial powers, in the monsoon session of the Assembly, beginning here tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference here, Federation Deputy Convenor K A Jaganathan said talks had already been held with Chief Minister N Rangasamy in this regard.

Alleging that the administration was not willing to expedite the procedures, he said if the Panchayati Raj system was fully implemented, the Central funds could be directly obtained. Now, such funds are being diverted to PWD.

Meanwhile, Puducherry Munnetra Trade Union urged the Chief Minister to constitute a high level committee as announced by him in the assembly for the modernisation of the government-owned Anglo-Frencdh Textile (AFT) mills.

In a letter to Mr Rangasamy, Union President I Murugesan urged him to provide 50 per cent bonus to the AFT mill workers, 15 days ahead of Deepavali.

UNI