Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 24: Amid tall claims of state government of empowering local bodies, the elected representatives of Municipal Council Kathua are still feeling powerless as their resolutions are allegedly remained confined to papers while the directives given by Deputy Commissioner have reportedly been implemented instantly.
After the local bodies' elections, various types of development works fall in Municipal limits have to be routed through the elected bodies but in Kathua Muncipal Council, such process is not followed.
"Proposals of any work is taken up in the meeting of the Council after which resolutions have been passed, which are to be implemented through Executive Officer", sources said, adding that the Kathua Muncipal Council has been in place for the last over 9 months but the resolutions passed in such time were not implemented so far.
Though the elected Corporators have been complaining against the interference of the Deputy Commissioner in the Council works without taking them into confidence but the recent case was the floating of tenders for installation of GPS system in the vehicles of the Council.
"During a meeting of Corporators, the Deputy Commissioner had discussed the issue of installation of GPS system in vehicles of the Council, but the Council had not passed any resolution but Executive Officer floated tenders for the same without consent of Corporators, which was in violation of laid norms", Corporator of Ward number 20 Kathua, Ravinder Pathania said, adding that vehicles were without insurance cover, which was more important than GPS, but it was not taken into consideration.
He further said that the Corporators would pass resolution against the tendering process and would stop the process in the next meeting. "Recently, no parking boards, banners and wall paintings were done in the city on behalf of Municipal Council but there was no resolution passed by Council", Pathania said, adding that they didn't want to disturb the positive steps taken by the DC but such practices would ultimately made local bodies powerless as they were before the elections.
Sources disclosed that the resolutions passed by Council regarding the usage of funds under 14th Finance Commission were not implemented.
"Out of 21 wards of the Council, many are without any sweeper while the sweepers working in the remaining wards have no basic necessary paraphernalia including gloves, shoes, masks etc", another Corporator said, adding that even the Corporators from the opposition parties were also against the working in the limits of Council without taking their consent.
Executive Officer of Kathua Municipal Council Sanjeev Gandotra said that regarding the GPS system installation in vehicles, the issue was discussed in a meeting of DC and probably the Council had also passed a resolution after which the tenders were floated.
On question of 14th Finance Commission funds, he said that initially the higher authorities asked to formulate plans and then directed to revise it and then re-revise it, due to which the process was delayed.
EO further said that Deputy Commissioner is the executive head and the department has to accept his directions. "Every time we take up matter with Vice-president and it is her duty to call meeting and discuss matter for further action", he said. |
