Hyderabad, July 22: Three bills, including Andhra Pradesh Rural Electric Cooperative Societies (temporary provision) Amendment Bill 2002, were introduced in Andhra Pradesh Assembly today. Tabled by minister for cooperation Chikkala Ramachandra Rao, the Recs bill aims to postpone elections to societies as power reforms were still in progress in the state.

The term of persons-in-charge would be extended up to March 2004, Rao said adding, elections to rural electric cooperative societies would be postponed till finalisation of the reform process. Panchayat Raj minister P Srinivas Reddy piloted the second bill to amend State Panchayat Raj Act 1994, which defines duties and responsibilities of village secretaries, with an aim to improve functioning of the local bodies.

A bill to amend Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act 1983 was moved by revenue minister P Ashok Gajapathiraju. It aims to bring in zilla and mandal parishad chiefs under its purview. Bureau Report