From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 18: If MPs and Legislators can have special area development funds, why not the Zilla Panchayat presidents?

Now, Karnataka government has decided to provide an exclusive ZP area development fund of Rs 2 crore a year to each of the presidents of all zilla panchayats in the State to take up development works in their respective districts.

The term of term of the ZP chiefs in the State is 20 months.

This was the outcome of a meeting of ZP presidents with Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda in Bangalore on Tuesday.

The Government has also positively responded to the demands of ZP presidents demand for increasing the vehicle purchase amount from Rs. 6.50 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.

Gowda told the presidents and vice-presidents of 30 ZPs of the State that the Government would positively consider various demands, including executing works without tenders up to Rs. 5 lakhs.

He also conceded the demand for increasing funds under natural calamity fund, holding meeting of State Panchayat Parishat by Chief Minster, providing status of minister of State for ZP president, allowing members to participate in meetings of school and college development committees, reimbursement of medical bills, hike in house rentals and increasing honorarium of ZP president and vice-presidents.

The Chief Minister said several demands of the president and vice-presidents were genuine and all issues would be discussed in the State Cabinet.

However, some of the demands would be fulfilled in the next budget of the State, he said.

But he said the Government might not be able to fulfil all their demands on account of decline in the State revenue to the tune of Rs. 4,000 crore following ban on mining by the Supreme Court, he said.

The Chief Minister told ZP Chiefs to take steps to make roads free from potholes in the State in the next two months. There was no dearth of funds to take up measures to tackle drought in 90 taluks and instructed them to use funds efficiently.

Gowda asked ZP chiefs not mix politics with development while executing works. Their demand for more powers would not bring any efficiency in implementation of works.

Earlier, Belgaum ZP President and Karnataka State ZP President and Vice-President Okkoota’s president Eranna Kadadi made a presentation to the Chief Minister on 17 demands and urged the Government to fulfil them on priority basis.
 
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar said 60 executive officers would be appointed soon which would help local bodies to expedite execution of works.

Additional Chief Secretary K Jairaj, RDPR Department Principal Secretary Amitha Prasad and Secretary Shalini Rajneesh were present at the meeting.