The Karnataka State Zilla Panchayat Presidents and Vice-presidents Union has also demanded that the State government must not interfere in grants allocated to them under the 12th Finance Commission (2006-07) for road maintenance projects. “A sum of Rs 173 crore has been given to zilla panchayats under a package. We demand that the State must not interfere in utilisation of these funds,”  said Damodar N Gardikar, president of the Union from North Karnataka Zilla Panchayat (Karwar).  
 However he also added that the Union has submitted a list of demands to the government to seek their involvement in development works. The list was decided at a meet of Presidents of zilla panchayats from all across the State on July 13.
“Development works under the State Planning Commission are being implemented with only the consent of officials and bureaucrats. The views and opinions of elected zilla panchayats are not being taken. Implementation of drinking water projects at the panchayat-level are being taken in the absence of presidents. In future, all zilla presidents should also be invited to chair meetings involving infrastructure projects” said Mr Gardikar.
The demands also include a raise in funds allocated to the zilla panchayat development fund from the current Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2 crore, as insufficient funds caused delays in implementation of infrastructure works.   Among those present included, A M Venkatesh, vice-president, Bangalore (Rural) and H C Savita Ramesh.