ZP president's move on fund allocation irks members

Congress members threaten stir if they are not satisfied with clarifications given by chief

The 10 per cent cut in the funds allotted to the members undr road scheme and 13th finance commission by the president led to the exchange of heated arguments in the general body meet in Zilla Panchayat here on Saturday.

Raising the issue, Congress members Ananth Muwadi and Manjunath Poojary said the action taken by the President is totally unfair. They demanded clarification over the action of the President who claimed suo-moto right, which is against the Panchayat Raj Act of 1993.

Muwadi said the fund that is released is minimal and the members have to undergo problems to distribute the amount for the needs in his or her constituency. Upon that if President wants 10 per cent share in the released amount, it is highly tricky to discharge the duties. The President is acting as the supreme power. He threatened that the Congress members will take up protest if they are not satisfied with the clarifications given by the President.

He said the funds were released especially for the repair of roads that are totally in dilapidated conditions. If it is necessary, let the president take the share in Zilla Panchayat funds. He also said the action plan for the finance expenditure of the current fiscal year is not released and the members are kept in dark over the details in the action plan. The action plan is not mentioned in the agenda.

ZP President Upendra Nayak said earlier special allotments were made for the President of ZP, around Rs 3 crores were received for the past two years under special allotments. However, this year no funds are released. He assured to clarify the queries and release the action plan.

Member Babu Shetty said the members should not be kept in dark. Muwadi said the action plan should be presented in the house and approval should be sought. Changes cannot be made in the action plan once it is sent to the government.

Member Mamatha Adhikari said that the funds released to the schools to buy utensils for boiling milk offered to the children under Ksheera Bhaghya Yojane is not reaching all the schools. DDPI said that a sum of Rs 5000 is released annually to purchase utensils. However, he will look into the issue, he assured.

Retorting to the query over Endosulfan damage, the DHO said the primary survey is conducted in as many as 73 affected villages in the district. Nearly 20,156 people are surveyed in the area. A general body will be formed under the leadership of district in-charge minister and executive committed will be formed under the leadership of the DC.

A sum of Rs 11.25 crore is released for the purpose. Once the committees are formed, special camp will be initiated and confirmation will be done and identity cards will be offered to the victims. Member Gouri Devadiga said that around three acres of land out of six acres allotted to Hosakalate higher primary school in Uppunda has been encroached by the beneficiaries under “Akrama-Sakrama” yojane. The members demanded inquiry into the same.

Retorting to a query over excess teachers, DDPI said that there are 15 additional teachers in 14 schools. The Education Standing Committee President Ganapathy Sriyan said that there are serve irregularities in the district education department.