Wednesday, September 5, 2012

2583 cr for Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 5
An amount of Rs 2583 crore will be given to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for taking up development works as per recommendations of the 4th State Finance Commission during the current financial year.
          This was stated by the Chairman of 4th State Finance Commission Mr LSM Salins ( Retd IAS) while addressing a meeting with officers of Gurgaon Division . He said that in the changed scenario of constitutional amendments, local bodies both rural and urban, are reckoned as vibrant units of local governance. The 73rd and 74thConstitutional amendments have given new dimensions and institutional strength to the rural and urban local bodies vis-à-vis the democratic decentralization in the country. He said that the 11thand 12th Schedules listing out 29 functions for PRIs and 18 for ULBs have given new impetus and strength to the local bodies. The Constitutional Amendments Acts (CAAs) also envisage devolving to the local bodies functions relating to preparation of plans for economic development and social justice as well as for implementation of various development schemes.
          According to Mr Salins, the 4th State Commission Haryana is required to make recommendations on measures needed to improve the financial and functional status of PRIs and ULBs and recommend devolutions of funds, functions and functionaries for these institutions for their empowerment during the next three years. Keeping this in view, the Finance Commission is organizing interactions at the Divisional headquarters of the state followed by district meetings and field visits. The Commission is also taking opinion of the elected representatives of these bodies.
          He said that the First Central Finance Commission gave Rs 100 crore to PRIs and ULBs of Haryana. Similarly, 13th Central Finance Commission recommended Rs 1580 crore grant for Haryana. He said that after the constitution of 3rd State Finance Commission in Haryana, the amount of grants given to PRIs and ULBs was increased significantly and it was Rs 1305 crore. Mr Salins said that now the PRIs and ULBs in Haryana were given more powers and grants were transferred direct to them. As per recommendations of the 4th  Finance Commission, the PRIs and ULBs in Haryana will get Rs 2583 crore during the current financial year.
In the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Mr P C Meena told that the operating and maintenance of water supply tubewells in 60 villages of district Gurgaon has been handed over to the respective gram panchayat. The electricity bill of the tubewell will be paid by the Public Health Engineering department and an amount of Rs 11000 was given per month to the Panchayat for keeping an operator and maintenance purposes. The gram panchayat can fix certain amount as fee per household in the village for supplying drinking water. If installation of new tubewell or change of pipe line was required, it will be got done by the department.
Mr Meena suggested that succession mutation should be registered at the Panchayat level which would help in improving the financial health of the panchayat. After one month or so, the Patwari can enter the mutation. He also suggested that like the municipal Committee, the Gram Panchayat should also get some percent of share in the sale deed registration fee of the property sold in its jurisdiction.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Rewari, Mewat, Mohindergarh, Faridabad and Palwal also.
 

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