Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 5: Minister for rural development and panchayat raj, K S Eshwarappa, revealed that discussion about the desirability of dismantling of the taluk panchayat system will be held in the cabinet meeting, and a proposal in this regard will be submitted to the union government.

He was replying to a question raised by BJP legislator, Kumar Bangarappa, on the subject during the zero hour at the state assembly on Thursday February 4. "Just because the taluk panchayat membership does not carry much value, several members have contested the gram panchayat elections and won from there. Legislators should come out with suggestions about implementing two tier system," he requested.

Kumar Bangarappa drew the attention of the minister to the fact that grants are not being sanctioned to the taluk panchayats and therefore these bodies have not been able to get works executed.

Venkatarao Nagadouda of the JD(S) said that there is no coordination between the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats. He pointed out that taluk panchayat members get grants of two to three lac rupees per year and wondered how anyone could work with so less a grant.

He said that the taluk panchayats and gram panchayats get the bills sanctioned relating to the same work. He suggested doing away with the taluk panchayats instead of continuing with the current system.