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Municipal bodies want extension of tenure |
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DIMAPUR, DEC 9 (EMN): The All Nagaland Municipal and Town Council Forum (ANMTCF) has reiterated its appeal to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to put on hold elections to the civic bodies of the state until such time the needs of the municipal and town councils are properly structured, facilitated and empowered and the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 perused, reviewed and implemented in all its feasible and practicable sense.
The Forum was also of the view that the 33% women reservation issue will create more confusion and create a divided house and therefore felt that the elections should be put on hold unless and until these matters are brought to a tangible conclusion.
Soliciting the CM’s perusal and sagacious decision, convenor K Khekaho Assumi, co-convenor Vipopal Kinsto and secretary Kupota Chakhesang of the Forum in a representation to the CM reminded their earlier representation dated July 4, 2009 to him and Urban Development Minister expressing that owing to various reasons the municipal and town councils in Nagaland could not function and achieve what was expected.
It stated that although the first five-year tenure of the municipalities nearing completion, the power and functions of the civic bodies remained as they were during the erstwhile town committees despite the ‘big talks’ about empowerment of the municipalities when elections were announced on December 8, 2004.
The Forum also drew attention of the CM to the ‘serious drawbacks’ the civic bodies face in Nagaland in effectively carrying out their functions due to non-implementation of the role of State Finance Commission and non-empowerment of the municipalities by way of government notification as envisaged in the Act.
It resolved to make the appeal at a consultative meeting held in Dimapur on November 28 following the government notification dated 17th November 2009 announcing election to the municipal and town councils. Citing its inability to effectively function and achieve the aspirations, the civic bodies urged for extension of their tenure in their earlier representation to the CM and Urban development Minister.
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