Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sep 25: The State Government today said the election to block development councils, which will form second tier of Panchayati Raj, will be held next month.
“The notification for the election for 143 Block Development Councils will be issued on October 4 and the process will be completed by first week of November,” Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar told reporters.
“The third tier of the Panchayati Raj system—establishing the District councils—will be done after the Block level polls. It will not take much time,” Sagar said.
On the rising number of resignations by Panchs and Sarpanchs following killing of a Panch on Sunday, the Minister said around 30 resignations had been received so far.
“We have directed the Home Commissioner and the Director General of Police to take whatever measures are required to ensure security of the Panchs and Sarpanchs,” he said.
Sagar said security forces will be patrolling in areas where threat perception is more while night area domination exercises will also be carried out.
Asked if the Government will provide personal security guards to over 34,000 grassroot level representatives, Sagar said it cannot be done.
“We will provide personal security in those cases where it is inevitable. Otherwise, the effort of the Government is to create an atmosphere of general security in the State,” he said.
On the demand of coalition partner Congress for adopting 73rd amendment in the State, Sagar, who also holds the Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, said the spirit of the amendment has already been implemented in the state through the Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 and two Cabinet orders.
“The essence of the 73rd amendment is to transfer funds, functions and functionaries to the Panchayats and we have already done this,” he said.
Sagar said there was no crisis in the Coalition Government on this issue.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, S M Sahai visited Kreeri to oversee the investigation of killing of panch Mohammad Shafi Teeli.
He directed to expedite the investigation in the case so that the perpetrators will be brought to book at the earliest, a police spokesman said.
The IGP directed officials of north Kashmir to review the security of Kreeri area and formulate measures to bolster security of Panchs and Sarpanchs in the area.
“We will try to ensure the safety of the elected members. The assault on the elected representatives of the people will be considered an assault on the will of the people, and police will take whatever it takes to provide them all possible security,” Sahai said.
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