GOVT NOTIFIES SIKKIM PANCHAYAT AND MUNICIPALITIES RULES, 2012

Rural and Urban reps to collaborate on district development plans

GANGTOK, 19 Oct: The UD&HD has notified the Sikkim Panchayat and Municipalities (Election of Members of District Planning Committee, Manner of Convening Meetings and Power and Function of the District Planning Committee) Rules, 2012. These rules govern the constitution of such planning committees comprising of Zilla Panchayats and municipal members and their functions.
These committees are to be formed soon after the constitution of a zilla panchayat or municipal body within the district. A joint meeting of the newly constituted zilla panchayat members and municipal members will be convened by the Secretary, UD&HD within the district for selection of the committee members.
The meeting can only proceed if two thirds of the total membership is in attendance. If there is no quorum within an hour of the time fixed for the meeting it will be adjourned. However for the next date scheduled for the meeting no quorum will be required, it has been stated.
The members are required to propose and second names of candidates from among themselves for election as members of the district planning committee and in the event of more candidates proposed than seats allotted an election will be conducted. Term of office of the committee members will expire with the term of the zilla panchayat and municipal body.
As for the functions of the committees it has been specified by the government that these committees are to consolidate the plans prepared by the gram and zilla panchayats as well as the urban local bodies in the district. A draft development plan of the district as a whole is then to be prepared from these plans.
While developing these district development plans the committee will have to consider matters of common interest between the panchayats and municipalities including spatial planning, sharing of water and other natural resources as well as environment conservation. The members will also have to bear in mind the availability of resources both financial and otherwise.
At the same time they are to develop the plans in consultation with institutions and organizations as the government may specify. These plans are then to be submitted to the state government.  
In the event that no zilla panchayat is duly constituted within the district and there is likelihood of delay the Secretary, UD&HD is empowered to constitute the district planning committee from members of the municipalities without delay. However, in such cases the representation from the Zilla Panchayat as required under Sikkim Panchayat Act, 1993, shall be kept vacant till the constitution of the Zilla Panchayat.