Tuki urges councillors to work for a crime-free capital

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister NabamTuki on Tuesday said a budgetary provision of Rs 5.50 crore has been made for municipal councils to carry out various activities under their jurisdiction.
"The budget would cover various components under salary, maintenance, office establishment and vehicles," Tuki said after inaugurating the office of Itanagar municipality at Naharlagun, near here.
He exhorted the councilors to work for making the state capital crime free.
The CM said the state cabinet has approved devolution of powers and functions in a phased manner to the newly constituted municipal bodies of Itanagar and Pasighat for effective development of these urban areas by involving people in the process of development at the grassroots level.
Stating that there are 27 notified towns in the state, he added that with time and development, more urban areas in the state would be covered under municipal corporations, along with Itanagar and Pasighat, where municipal elections were conducted for the first time this year. He said constitution of nagar palika and municipalities is made mandatory under JNNURM.
Tuki also directed the department of town planning to look for land for setting up a permanent office of the municipal council and assured to allot Rs 5 crore from SPA (special plan assistance) in the next financial year for the purpose.
Arunachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Coordination Committee (APPRCC) on Tuesday said the recent cabinet decision to make zilla parishad chairperson the chairperson of district planning committee will go a long way in accelerating the development process throughout this underdeveloped landlocked state.
He said the move to allocate funds under SPA (special plan assistance) for construction of zilla parishad offices for the remaining seven districts is yet another indication to make panchayati raj institutions functional.