Team Herald
PANJIM: Two days after the BJP received a thumping majority in the Zilla Panchayat elections, the State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Goa Panchayat Raj (Application of Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat Funds) (Conditions and Limitations) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020 which enhances funding to village panchyats and zilla panchayts.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant also promised to grant more powers to the zilla panchayats. “We are in talks with regards to granting more powers to the ZPs. It is in our bucket list as we embark on mission Swayampurna Goa,” he said.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said that funds have also come from the Centre and hence it was decided to increase funding to the panchayats and ZPs. “Rs 75 cr is come from Centre and we felt we need to empower the local self governing bodies with more financial powers,” he said.
Godinho said that after the amendment, the ZPs and panchayats will get enhanced expenditure limits on purchases, projects, meetings etc.
The Government had earlier framed The Goa Panchayat Raj (Application of Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat Funds) (Conditions and Limitations) Rules, 2006 which were amended in 2015 by virtue of which the financial limits for incurring expenditure by village panchayats, Zilla Panchayats with the approval of the Government and without approval of the Government are as per the schedule prescribed under the amendment.
The Cabinet note says, “As there have been substantial increase in the cost of living index since 2015 and as such Village Panchayats/Zilla Panchayats are required to forward their proposals to the Government for grant of sanction to incur expenditure on various items listed in the schedule attached to the said Rules 2015 which are insufficient considering the present day rise in cost index.”
Therefore, it says, a need has been felt to enhance the limits of expenditure that can be incurred by the VP/ZP within their powers and beyond their powers with the approval of the Government.
The proposal is for amending the schedule attached to the Rules because the amount specified in the schedule is found to be insufficient in view of increasing cost index. Therefore, it has been proposed to increase the limit of expenditure to be incurred by VPs/ZPs.
There are no financial implications involved in the matter since there are no financial liabilities on the Government as the expenditure will be incurred from the funds raised by the VPs and ZPs.
