Opposing the move of the government to curtail the powers of the Zilla Panchayts, the members of Kodagu ZP locked the office of the Chief Executive Officer and staged a protest in front of the ZP on Thursday.
The protesters condemned the decision of the government of handling the Chief Minister’s Grama Sadak Yojana (CMGRY) and the schemes managed with the grants of 12th Finance Commission under the leadership of local MLAs under the ‘package system’.
ZP President H S Ashok, Vice-President B C Neelamma, Education and Health Standing Committee Chairman V P Shashidhar, senior Congress members M K Nanjappa, S N Rajarao led the protest, where all members irrespective their parties, raised slogans against the government.
Speaking at a press meet later, ZP chief Mr Ashok condemned condition of the government that the ZP should seek the approval from the Chief Engineer regarding the action plan for the drinking water schemes.
The power of the ZPs regarding CMGSY and 12th Finance Commission should be continued as per the guidelines existed during 2006-07.
At least Rs 2 crore should be added to the development grant to the ZP. President of Zilla Panchayat should be invited to attend the meetings of the State Planning Committee, Mr Ashok urged.
‘Mass resignation’
Standing Committee Chairman V P Shashidhar said the ZP members may need to give mass resignation if the government takes Zilla Panchayat as a name-sake system.
If the government expects the ZP to work just as a mediator for planning the schemes, there was no need to form such a system itself, he remarked.
The MLAs are receiving the grants being given by the government under Western Ghats, Malnad Development Board and rain havoc as well as droughts. The decision of the government to divert the 12th Finance Commission grants to them is not a welcome note, he stated.