Panchayats merged with urban local bodies ‘can hold sabhas’
To ensure the smooth functioning of gram panchayats merged with urban local bodies, the Panchayati Raj Department has issued standard operating procedures. This move follows confusion among panchayats regarding their responsibilities after the merger.
Though gram sabhas can be held in these areas, no new developmental activities will be permitted. Ongoing projects must be completed before the expiry of the panchayat’s five-year term in November. After that, fresh elections will be conducted to elect new representatives for the next term.
Routine tasks like social audits under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act and works under the 15th Finance Commission can still be discussed with residents of the merged rural areas. While funds will be provided as per existing provisions, no additional funds will be allocated for these areas, clarified the Director of the Panchayati Raj Department in an order issued on February 15.
Administrative functions such as issuing certificates and registering births and deaths will continue as usual in the panchayats. However, panchayat secretaries have been directed to prepare an inventory of movable and immovable assets, which will be handed over to urban civic bodies as per orders from the Deputy Commissioners. The lack of such an inventory has led to complications in past mergers, with panchayat properties, such as the panchayat bhawan in Anji and Saproon, still under gram panchayat control despite their merger into the Solan Municipal Corporation in 2020.
Eighteen panchayats have been wholly or partially merged into the newly notified Baddi MC. Similarly, in the newly formed Nagar Panchayat of Kunihar, revenue areas from three panchayats—Kunihar, Koti, and Hatkot—have been included. Thawna, Hatkot, Kothi-First, and Up Mahal Kothi Second are fully merged, while Unchagaon and Up Mahal Pulhara are partially incorporated.
Despite the notification of these urban bodies, the merged rural areas will benefit from urban development only after a budgetary provision is made for them.
