The Hindu – Kerala 18.08.2009
Plan to upgrade 5 grama panchayats
N.J. Nair
| Proposal to be given to delimitation panel |
Bifurcation of 14 others mooted
The number of municipalities to go up to 58
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A proposal to upgrade five grama panchayats as municipalities and bifurcate 14 others is understood to have been drawn up for the consideration of the Delimitation Commission.
Official sources told The Hindu here that it has been proposed to upgrade Karunagapally, Thrikkakara, Kottakkal, Nilambur and Neeleswaram as municipalities and merge certain panchayats with the adjoining municipalities. The number of municipalities will go up to 58.
As per the proposal drawn up by the Local Self-Government Department, Nattakom and Kumarakom panchayats have been recommended to be merged with Kottayam municipality, Thycaud and Pookode with Guruvayur, Purathussery with Irinjalakuda, Eloor with Kalamassery and Thiruvankulam with Thrippunithura. Maradu panchayat has been proposed to be integrated with Kochi Corporation. There is no proposal to upgrade any municipality as corporation. It has also been proposed to merge five panchayats in the capital with Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
In the wake of the merger and upgradation, the number of panchayats is likely to decrease from the current 999.
Standing committees
It has almost been decided in principle to have four standing committees in all panchayats. In order to facilitate the formation of the committees, the minimum number of members in each panchayat has been fixed at 13. Each committee will have three members and the president will be an invitee to all the committees without voting powers. This proposal has been mooted to increase the efficiency of the standing committees. There were complaints that the committees were over-loaded and could not function effectively. The proposal is seen as a solution to such complaints, sources said.
The delimitation proposals have been framed on the basis of the density of population, area and funds. It has been recommended to upgrade civic bodies having more than a population of 50,000, own income of Rs.20 lakh and 20 sq km area.
Density of population and the ratio of non-agriculture male labourers were considered for upgrading panchayats as municipalities. Proposals for amending the Panchayati Raj Act and Municipalities Act too have been drawn up.
The proposals will be given to the Delimitation Commission after the approval of the Cabinet. The proposals are likely to figure at the next Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the sources said.
