TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: In what way the Temple towns of Ayodhya and Varanasi in Akilesh Yadav’s Uttar Pradesh will help South Goa Zilla Panchayat members to demand more powers and functions for the Zilla Panchayat back home remains unknown.
Indeed, Ayodhya and Varanasi form part of the itinerary of the South Goa ZIlla Panchayat members as they plan to take a tour of the North Indian state under the government-sponsored “study tour” programme. The ZP members were initially scheduled to depart Goa for Uttar Pradesh on November 12, but the intervening Tulsi Lagin has come in the way of finalising the tour date.
South Goa ZP chairperson, Nelly Rodrigues, when quizzed by the media, over the frequent tours undertaken by the ZP members, pointed out that the study tours are being sponsored by the government to help the members study the ZP pattern in other states. “Normally, the government sponsors one tour in a financial year. After our return, we compile a report and submit the same to the government for implementation”, she said.
She evaded a reply when pointed that instead of the Zilla members, the government should undertake study tours to other states to study the ZP functioning since it is the government of the day that has been sabotaging devolution of powers and functions to the ZP bodies under the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution.
The file pertaining to the November tour is presently with the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar and the tour is expected to cost the exchequer around Rs 8 lakh.
