BJP Govt keen to restore more powers to Gram Panchayats:Acharya

Udupi, June 26 (UNI) BJP Government in Karnataka was keen to give more power to Gram Panchayats in the State as proposed under Article 243 and Schedule 11 and 12 in Panchayat Raj Act, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said today.

Speaking after inaugurating the first phase of new Udupi Zilla Panchayat building constructed at a cost of Rs One crore here, he said that though 28 powers have been proposed under the act and 21 powers to local urban body institutions, this was not yet come to the effect.

"The state government was keen to restore these powers to the Gram Panchayat institutions so that they could become more powerful and implement all developmental activities," he added.

He said that the government was awaiting the recommendations from the third State Finance Commission headed by A G Kodgi which is expected to submit report by December 31. "Once this report was received by the government, it would be reviewed and more fund allocation would be made to these institutions as done in the case of second finance commission where the government provided more grants than proposed by the Commission, he added.

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