Friday, 17 June 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The third day of the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday saw the opposition members strongly demanding abolition of district development authorities. Some of the Congress members entered the well of the house and also tore the copy of the budget. The marshals had to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.
As soon as discussion on district development authorities began under rule 58, the opposition members strongly raised the issues including problems being faced by the public due to these authorities. Demanding the dissolution of the district development authorities, the opposition members pointed out that though the approval of building layouts by the authorities had been discontinued, the old system had not been reinstated which was causing problems to the public. The Assembly speaker Ritu Khanduri repeatedly asked the opposition members to maintain peace and order. However, the Congress MLAs continued to demand the dissolution of the district development authorities, stating that these bodies were hubs of corruption. As seen in past Assembly sessions, the ruling BJP despite enjoying a good majority has been struggling in the Assembly especially due to the poor homework of its ministers and the aggressive opposition capitalising on the weakness of the treasury benches. The opposition cornered the government once again on the third day of the session on the issue of the district development authorities.Protesting against the continuation of the district development authorities, the opposition members also asked about the whereabouts of the report of the committee under Chandan Ram Dass formed on this subject.
Responding to the queries raised by the opposition, Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development minister Prem Chand Agrawal said that the revenue earned by the district development authorities is used for infrastructural works in the area concerned. He also explained other aspects related to these authorities. The minister added that various relaxations have also been provided on the basis of the report of the cabinet sub-committee. It had also been decided that for areas brought under the purview of district development authorities after 2016, passing the layout will be voluntary and not mandatory.
The deputy leader of opposition, Bhuwan Kapri questioned the need for the district development authorities while pointing out that building layouts are approved by municipal bodies and Nagar Panchayats. He questioned what facilities were being provided to the public in return for the money being earned by the district development authorities.
