PESHAWAR, OCt 16: The dual system of governance which has come into being as a result of the newly-established local governments under the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, is likely to hamper development activities in the province.

As most of the development projects and schemes are now being started and finished by the city and district government Nazimeen and councillors, the newly-elected members of the National Assembly and provincial assembly might consider it to be an attempt to clip their wings as previously they were supposed to carry out or look after the development works and schemes in different parts of the province.

“Certainly, there will be tension between the members of the provincial assembly and the district governments over  the question of development works,” apprehended a development planner based at Peshawar.

The local government ordinance, 2001, has defined a clear cut role for the District Nazim and elected members of the three-tier local government system vis-a-vis planning development schemes for the areas — a job previously done by the members of the provincial assembly.

Section 15 rule (a) of the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, contains that the Nazim would provide vision for the district-wide development, leadership and direction for efficient functioning of the district government.

Similarly, the rule (b) of the same section envisages that Nazim would develop with the assistance of the district administration strategies and timeframe for accomplishment of the relevant goals approved by the District Council.

Rule (d) of section 15 envisages a further greater role for the Nazim making him responsible to oversee formulation and execution of the annual development  plan, delivery of services and functioning of the district government.

“Provisions contained under the local government ordinance, 2001, have left no role for the MPAs to influence development planning in their areas concerned as was the case in the past,” said the district government officer involved in the development sector.

Official  sources  talked to by  Dawn  maintained  that marginalization of the MPAs’ role in development planning due to the devolution of powers at the grassroots level was an ‘eventual’ threat, at least for some time, to the district governments’ smooth functioning.

According to pursued  arrangement,  development scheme(s) involving total estimated cost of Rs 40 million per scheme could be planned and executed by a district government on its own — without ascertaining approval by the provincial government.

At present, uplift plans, specially at the micro level, are being planned and okayed by the district development bodies set up as an integral part of the district government system introduced in August 2001.

Throughout  the three-year stay in power the  military government has been of the view that members of the parliament would only be perform legislation whereas development planning would be taken down to the union council level.

“The new administrative system introduced on Aug 14, 2001, envisages end to the greater role assumed by the MPAs and MNAs since 1985 when the then finance minister Mehboob-ul-Haq involved members of the parliament in development planning introducing a system of bribing those who were supposed to take care of the legislation side,” said a senior officer of the NWFP government who has been involved in the preparation of local government system.

Officials said if the MPAs-elect tried to have the power their predecessors had then the situation may turn out to be difficult for the newly set up district government.

Several officers, talked to Dawn apprehended that the new administrative system might undergo obstacles if the MPAs-elect tried to assert their selves seeking role in development role.

Development planners said whereas the MPAs elect would not be having (officially defined) say in the development planning at the micro level they might get opportunity to give input to the development planning done at the provincial level.

Provincial government is authorized to plan  development schemes involving total estimated cost of Rs 200 million per scheme, hence, that could provide an opportunity to the MPAs to influence the development planners.

“This is, too, premature to say in view of the announcements made by the President Gen Pervez Musharraf,” said a senior officer of the provincial government.

Provincial finance managers, talking to this scribe said that after the devolution of the provincial finance commission award — presently in its first year of implementation — every district government had been set aside a proper share out of the total resources of the provinces on the basis of a resource distribution formula laid down for this purpose.

In accordance with the PFC award, the sources said, district governments would be required to spent 70 per cent of their total annual development budget on social sector, leaving no room for the members of the provincial or national assembly’s involvement in this respect as has been the case in the past.

The fact that majority of the district governments — 24 in the case of NWFP — are headed by loyals of the mainstream political parties  have also added to the already existing uncertainty  about the smooth functioning of the  district governments on the face of landslide victory of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

Of the total 99 general assembly seats of the NWFP assembly 48 were bagged by MMA in the Thursday’s elections causing stunning defeats to ANP, PPP, PML(N) and PML(Q)-backed candidates in majority of the districts where men loyal to these parties are heading district governments.

“District governments headed by men having  previously associated with ANP, PPP, PML(N) and PML(Q) may witness a crisis-like situation because several number of MMA candidates have returned from almost all the districts,” said the official sources.

Political observers believe that the formation of MMA-led government in NWFP may cause some sort or irritants in the way of smooth functioning of local governments at districts where MMA’s opponents were in power.