MARGAO, SEPT 27
The six-month deadline served by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat to the government to either devolve more powers and functions to the district panchayat bodies or face agitation have expired.
But, if the South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson, Maria Rebello is to be believed, the government will be given additional three months time to meet the demands of the Zilla Panchayats under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or face a stir.
“During the just concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, the government and the opposition had spoken in favour of devolving more powers to the Zilla Panchayat. Even last week, when we called on the Director of Panchayats, were told that the ZP will receive additional powers very soon. In view of this situation, I feel the deadline should be extended by three more months for the government to bestow the powers”, she added.
This question is likely to figure at the meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat scheduled on September 30 as both the opposition and the ruling members are expected to seek explanation from the ZP over the powers and functions.
In fact, the opposition members have been gunning the Chairperson and the ruling Congress group for the failure to convince the party leaders on the need to bestow all powers on the district panchayat bodies.
Incidentally, Panchayat Minister, Babu Azgaonkar along with Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik are expected to attend the September 30 meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat, raising hopes and expectations that the Congress leaders will make a strong case for the devolution of all power and functions to the ZP bodies.
“I am confident that the government will soon decide to arm the ZP bodies with additional powers. Our genuine demands had recently found support with the ruling and opposition MLAs and we all hope the positive attitude on the part of the MLAs will give the ZP’s more powers as per the Constitutional Amendment”, Rebello added.
