Indian Express 24.04.2010
Councillors likely to get more powers
Express News Service Tags : corporation, Councillors Posted: Saturday , Apr 24, 2010 at 0053 hrs
Chandigarh: After meeting with UT Administrator Shivraj Patil, councillors say he has in-principle agreed to give more teeth to the Municipal Corporation
The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is all set to get more power in the coming days. In the first-of-its-kind meeting held at Punjab Raj Bhawan between UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil and the elected municipal councillors, various issues regarding giving more powers to the civic body were discussed.
According to the councillors who attended the meeting, Patil, in-principle agreed to implement various provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment’s 12th schedule.
To begin with, the control of city’s primary education sector is likely to be given to the Municipal Corporation in the coming days, followed by the local transport and various other important departments, along with the budget and staff.
While interacting with the councillors today, Shivraj Patil assured us that primary education in the city will be controlled by the Corporation. He said the MC needs to be more powerful as it was the body constituted of people who are elected representatives of people and work for them,” disclosed one of the councillors.
“It is a great move. The Administrator has assured us all the support and guidance. He said development of city and welfare of citizens should be our primary objective and we shall work towards it with full dedication and devotion,” said former mayor Pradeep Chhabra, who was also among those who attended the meeting.
The 12th schedule of the 74 h Constitutional Amendment Act of India defines 18 new tasks in the functional domain of the urban local bodies, which include urban planning including town planning; regulation of land-use and construction of buildings, roads and bridges, water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes, public health, sanitation conservancy and solid waste management, fire services, urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects, safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, slum improvement and upgrade, urban poverty alleviation, provision of urban amenities and facilities, promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects, vital statistics including registration of births and deaths, public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences etc. Under the amendment, the Union government had asked all the state governments to bring all such departments under the control of local bodies.
In case of Chandigarh, however, the amendment was not adequately followed. While several departments, which figure in the amendment, are already with the Corporation, the remaining ones are also likely to be given to MC soon.
