Jammu, July 9: The Interlocutors on Kashmir appointed by the Government of India on Saturday favoured decentralization of powers at Panchayat level to empower Panchs and Sarpanchs for better development at grassroot level.
 “The Interlocutors panel headed by Dileep Padgaonkar favoured more powers to rural local bodies. They assured the newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs that they would recommend the union government for decentralization of powers to make these institutions more effective,” official sources told Greater Kashmir.
 Sources said that Dileep Padgaonkar along with other two members of the panel, Radha Kumar and M M Ansari, after concluding their visit of Ramban district, held series of meetings with 16 political, non-political and social groups at Conference Hall on the premises of Deputy Commissioner Office, Reasi.
 The newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs demanded that the state government should implement 73rd amendment in letter and spirit to make J&K Panchayati Raj Act at par with the Central Panchayat Raj Act. “Until and unless the government decentralizes the powers at Panchayat level, these institutions will serve no purpose and these will remain ineffective,” they said.
 The representatives of other delegations also acquainted them with the basic issues of the people, besides deliberating on Kashmir problem. They demanded that aspirations of the people belonging to all the regions must be taken into account while finalizing any document on Kashmir imbroglio.
 Later, the team visited Kathua town and interacted with the leaders of different political parties, representatives of NGOs, non-political and social organisations to elicit their viewpoint over the basic problems. Member of Parliament from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary Constituency Lal Singh, MLC Subash Gupta and MLA Kathua Charanjeet Singh also met the Panel at Town Hall.
 While addressing the gathering of “selective” Panchs and Sarpanchs, who owe allegiance to ruling coalition partners, MLC Subash Gupta demanded creation of separate district for Billawar, Bani and Basohli areas to “deliver justice” to the people.
 He also raised the issue of Ranjit Sagar Dam and demanded that the Centre should pressurize the Punjab Government for making suitable compensation to Jammu and Kashmir in lieu of using its power share and water resources.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST