MARGAO: Caught on the wrong foot for not holding the mandatory DPC for the last five years, South Goa Zilla Panchayat chairperson Navnath Naik said that MLAs are not willing to arm the ZPs and local self-government bodies with powers and functions.
He went on to say that even ZP members, who rose to become MLAs did not take up the cause of the Zilla Panchayats in the Legislative Assembly.
“It’s not only the BJP government, but even during the Congress government the powers were not devolved to the Zilla panchayats and panchayats. Even if BJP is ready to devolve powers, the MLAs will never support the party to devolve more functions and funds to the ZPs,” he said.
Navnath defended his decision not to
call the DPC during his entire five year
tenure saying no purpose would have been served without the government providing manpower.
“We had asked for additional manpower, including four staffers to consolidate the district plan, but in vain. Without logistics support, the DPC cannot function,” he added.
