Do not politicise joint cheque power: Minister to Oppn

Hyderabad: Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao on Wednesday advised the Opposition parties not to politicise the issue of joint cheque power to sarpanch and upa sarpanches.

Taking part in the debate on demands of his department, the Minister said the sarpanches should not oppose joint cheque power to sarpanch and upa sarpanch. He said that the upa sarpanch was also a fellow public representative of the village.

The Minister said the joint cheque power was included in the Panchayat Raj Act. He said the decision was taken before the panchayat elections and the sarpanches have taken oath of office under the rules of the Act.

He said the panchayats have been made available of lot of funds as the drinking water programme has been taken over by the government through Mission Bhagiratha scheme. The Minister said that in the past most of the funds of the panchayats used to be spent on drinking water.

He said that after the TRS has come to power in the State more than 22,000 kms length of roads have been laid. He said that the officials and public representatives should participate in the 30 days action plan.