Finance Commission report by Dec 31
By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 30: The third Assam State Finance Commission today started consultations with economists, intellectuals, political parties and heads of local bodies for placing its recommendations related to the funding and functioning of the local bodies. The six-member commission, headed by former Asom Chief Secretary HN Das, has been asked to submit its report to the Asom Governor by December 31.
Speaking to The Sentinel, Das said, Article 243 of the Indian Constitution and Schedule 11 and 12 have conferred powers to the Panchayati Raj institutions, municipalities and town committees. The task of the third State Finance Commission is to suggest the distribution of funds and fix the duties and responsibilities of the local bodies, which, in fact, are considered to be the part of the government.
While the commission started its journey on August 1, it has a huge task ahead of it to touch 2,400 panchayats and 88 municipalities and town committees, and hence, it is hard to say how long it will take to complete the job. We have to see every details of allocation of funds to local bodies, determination of various taxes, infrastructure of urban local bodies and feasibility of public-private partnership along with actual and estimated debt position of each local body, Das said.
The second State Finance Commission, headed by Rajib Bora, took more than two years to submit its report.
On the implementation of the recommendations of the commission, Das said the implementation lies with the government. However, we have sought the status report from the State Government as far as the implementation of the suggestions made by the second Finance Commission is concerned, he said. The Commission took views of economists and political parties today, and tomorrow it will hold deliberations with heads of local bodies.
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