Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 17: The Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat meeting held here on Monday September 16 decided to dissolve Haleangady gram panchayat. 21 members voted for the resolution while 16 opposed it.

The session of the zilla panchayat was presided by president, Meenakshi Shantigodu. There was din throughout the session after member Vinod Kumar Bollur, raised the topic half-completed discussion about dissolving the said gram panchayat, duly pointing out that the panchayat had violated about holding 40 general sessions during the term of the panchayat. He pointed out that over 50 infrastructure committee meetings were held but irregularities on allotting house numbers, drinking water connection, street lights etc were noticed and a stage has reached in which some people face the prospects of getting punished.

Another member Sucharita Shetty said that nothing moves in Haleangady gram panchayat and power decentralization notion has been overlooked. He demanded for the appointment of administrative officer there immediately. Mamata Gatty opposed the suggestion and urged the concerned to hold discussion with the gram panchayat president and give them enough time to take corrective action. Another member M S Muhammed, said that such a step taken in respect of Hirebandady gram panchayat earlier had resulted in loss of face for the zilla panchayat and warned that history will repeat if drastic measures are taken against the gram panchayat.

Vice president of the zilla panchayat, Kasturi Panja, said that all kinds of investigations were held there and villagers have complained to Lokayukta. Therefore she favoured dissolution after which arguments began between the members. Although the opposition members entered the well of the house and continued with creating din, the ruling members insisted on passing the resolution and took a decision in favour of dissolving Helangady gram panchayat.