ZP members flays govt for not providing funds for works

ZP members flays govt for not providing funds for works

ZP members flays govt for not providing funds for works

Zilla Panchayat (ZP) members alleged that the state government is trying to curb their rights, by not providing sufficient funds to take up works in their respective constituencies.

During the ZP general meeting here on Saturday, the members expressed their displeasure and said, that the government has provided Rs 10 to Rs 11 lakh for each member. Mysuru ZP has 49 members, including the president and vice president.

JD(S) member Beerihundi Basavanna, also Chairman of standing committee for Social Justice, alleged that the members could not take up the works, especially drinking water projects in their constituencies. "The members have lost interest in attending the meetings. Though we have completed 1.6 years in office, we have failed to fulfil the promises made to the people. When we fail to fulfil the demands, why should we be in power? Even though action plans for drinking water projects have been submitted, not a single project has been approved by the state government in the last three years," he said.

The ZP has sent the list of the emergency works to be taken up, but, the government has failed to respond for the proposal. The authorities sent the proposal for the works worth Rs 10.73 crore and Rs 27 crore, respectively.

The members of Congress party, supporting Basavanna, urged ZP president Nayeema Sultana to stage a protest against the government. Pushpa Amarnath urged the president to take all the members to Belagavi to protest during the Assembly session. She said, "Gram panchayat members are enjoying more powers and are receiving good funds, compared to ZP members."

Fund diversion

The members asked the president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) P Shivashankar to see if the funds sanctioned under Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) can be diverted to the constituencies to take up the works. According to the members, Rs 36 crore is pending under SCP and TSP.

Member Mangala Somashekar said, the members are not in a position to face the people. She urged the president to write a letter to the government, highlighting the problems of the members.

Verbal clash

A verbal altercation broke out between JD(S) and Congress party members, when JD(S) member S R Nandeesh targeted the Congress-led state government, for not providing the funds. Congress members D Ravishankar, B Pushpa Amarnath and others took exception to Nandeesh's statement.

The Congress members said, despite all members facing the same issue and joining hands to oppose the government, Nandeesh was personally targeting the party.