WB Cabinet discusses amendment to Panchayat Act

Facing a stalemate over holding panchayat polls in West Bengal following differences between the state government and the State Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress government is keen on amending the existing Panchayat Act.
The state cabinet in a meeting today discussed the issue of amending the West Bengal Panchayat Act 1975 and West Bengal Panchayat Election Rules 2006, which were earlier raised in the Assembly, sources in state secretariat said.
Among other issues, the cabinet decided to move a bill in the Assembly soon for amendment to the Kolkata Development Authority Bill to provide a civic body to the New Town area at Rajarhat for better administration, the sources said.

A civic body at New Town area would help the local administration raise revenues through taxes, the sources said.
The cabinet also cleared the deck for acquisition of land for the construction of embankments in the Sundarbans in South 24-Parganas district, for the construction of a 21 km long flyover from Debra to Sabang and a bridge at Salboni in West Midnapore district.
Besides, the state government would make a panel for recruitment of 1.3 lakh civil police in the state, they said.