Taking cognisance of a petition filed by social activist Subhash Sharma, the Uttarakhand High Court has asked ministries concerned and state government departments to respond within three weeks.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Sharma said that the purpose of bringing 73rd and 74th amendments was to bring a change in the structure of governance by decentralising power and control from the state government to the elected local bodies.
However, the state government opted to apply the literal interpretation of the amendment to its own benefit.He said, “I have nothing against the government departments or officials or any political party.
My fight is with the way they handle their power which is supposed to be used for the good of the people.
These departments are becoming money making machinery for the political parties. We the common people of the state are paying for the funds of these political parties.
I also want to make it clear that I do not hold any grudge against any officials or the government because some of my personal work was stuck. My petition is for the welfare of the people and if necessary I will take this to the Supreme Court.”
Focusing on the need for decentralising power he said, “The departments like MDDA have been taking money from the people for every small and big construction which was supposed to be the municipal corporation or Gram Panchayat’s duty. These bodies elected by us are now only confined to taking care of the cleanliness of the city or to collect house tax.”Talking about the welfare of the people he said, “I agree that the people we elect in Municipal Corporation or Gram Panchayat are not above corruption but they are still answerable to the public.
On the other hand, bodies like the MDDA do little for public welfare.”