Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said rules were being framed to give panchayats in the state taxation powers to make them self-reliant.

He also sought the cooperation of elected representatives to implement total liquor ban and urged them to take a pledge in this regard. "The panchayats will have taxation powers in the coming days. Rules are being framed in this regard," Nitish said. "Panchayati raj institutions will move ahead on their own, and we will provide full cooperation."

The chief minister said this while addressing newly elected representatives of zila parishads, panchayat samitis and village panchayats via videoconferencing from the state secretariat.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, ministers and senior government officials were present.

Nitish said panchayats were getting funds from various sources but those from the central government were declining sharply on the Finance Commission's recommendation. He said decentralisation of power was Mahatma Gandhi's dream and increasing panchayati raj institutions' powers would help achieve it.

Talking about the liquor ban, Nitish said: "Prohibition has improved the environment in villages to quite an extent. It is necessary for social uplift. Today, Bihar has placed an example before the country and we need to improve it further. I wish all newly elected panchayat representatives take a vow on prohibition."

Nitish assured local self-government representatives that care would be taken to ensure common people and innocents do not suffer owing to provisions of the bill for the new excise act, which will be tabled in the Assembly in the upcoming monsoon session, beginning July 29.

Nitish asked panchayati raj representatives to perform their tasks with transparency and ensure the uplift of villages and towns. He said there was need for proper panchayat offices and the state government was addressing it.

"Work is in progress in 1,400 village panchayats to construct panchayat sarkar buildings, where all representatives and officials could sit and discharge their duty with ease," Nitish said. "Around 547 buildings have been completed, while 197 are nearing completion. The rest are in different phases of construction. We should ensure that bank branches are also located in those buildings for easier functioning of the panchayati raj system."