Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on Wednesday increased the financial rights given to Block Development Officers (BDOs) and government engineers at various levels.
This decision will cut the powers of elected representatives of Panchayat committees, most of which are under the control of the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi. This decision fears the new political controversy.
This decision was one of the total five proposals approved by the cabinet at the meeting. Other decisions include approving the establishment of a new city at an estimated cost of Rs 8,179 crore on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said that the financial right of BDO has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to approve the bill for the work of Panchayat Samiti and this will not require a deficiency of the presidents of the block-level local bodies.