Governor N.N. Vohra has given his assent to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2016.A Raj Bhavan spokesperson added that it was imperative to hold early elections to the Panchayats, keeping in view the crucial importance of establishing the three tiered framework of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State for securing effective participation of the people in the decision making process and for overseeing the implementation and developmental programmes.It is pertinent to mention that the State, which lost potential allocations and grants in the past years, shall lose resource support of Rs. 3096 crore during the 14th Finance Commission Award period in the event of non conduct of Panchayat elections.It may be recalled that the Governor, in recent meetings with the Chief Minister, has been pressing for the very early conduct of elections to both the urban and rural self-governing bodies. The Panchayat elections are now envisaged to be held by March 2017.Considering the time frame of the forthcoming elections the Governor has also consented to the issue of the J&K Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 to empower the State Chief Electoral Officer to conduct the Panchayat elections.