BELGAUM: Lack of co-ordination between various Panchayat Raj bodies at taluk and district levels and between the officials of these bodies has been the main reason for delay in implementation of various schemes and development programmes, opined the state-level special meeting of presidents and vice-presidents of Zilla Panchayats, here on Tuesday. Some of those who spoke at the meeting demanded powers equivalent to those of a State Minister to ZP chiefs.Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar presided over the meeting. The meeting noted that there is no coordination between the Gram Panchayats (GP), Taluk Panchayats (TP) and the Zilla Panchayats (ZP) in execution of developmental works. It discussed various issues, including drinking water problem districtwise.A couple of presidents and vice-presidents opined that there is no coordination between PDOs and secretaries in their respective panchayats leading to delay in works.Shettar told the meet that drinking water schemes based on Cauvery and Tunga Bhadra rivers are likely to be taken up soon to provide a permanent solution to the drinking water problem in Kolar district.Responding to several problems and complaints on implementation of mid-day meals scheme, he said that it will be discussed thoroughly to find out a solution.Shettar claimed that the Panchayat Raj systmem of Karnataka is considered the best among all the states in the country. He said that the recruitment for filling the vacant posts of the PDO’s is in progress and will soon be completed.Some of the ZP presidents demanded that the they should have powers equivalent to those of ministers of state. Calling it their right, they argued that it would help overall development of respective districts. Some others demanded to abolish TPs, which are provided negligible grants.However, Shettar said that the demands cannot be considered.He said that he has succeeded to provide grant of Rs 1 crore to each of the TPs in the state and attempts are on to increase it to Rs 2 crore.The Zilla Parishad presidents demanded to upgrade their respective official vehicles and the budget for which has to be increased from `6 lakh to `10 lakh per vehicle.‘Let CM preside ZP meetings’For accelerating the works taken up by the ZPs in the state, periodic ZP meetings should be conducted under the presidentship of Chief Minister, opined president of Karnataka ZP Presidents Association Iranna Kadadi. He said that by doing so, CM too will be able to know about the problems of the each ZP.Agreeing to the suggestion, Shettar said that he would discuss with the CM.Gulbarga Woman Members Demand ‘Senseless’Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar described the demand of women ZP members of Gulbarga to allow their spouses to represent them at the ZP meet, as ‘senseless’.Shettar said on Tuesday that rules cannot be violated and added that ZP members, both men and women, are not elected for appointing some other person to represent them, even if they are their spouses, he added.
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