The Times of India  07.08.2012

Mayors seek more power

JAIPUR: Four mayors of the state presented a memorandum to the governor Margaret Alva demanding implementation of the 74th constitutional Amendment Act on Monday.Mayors of five municipal corporations were in the city to participate the in the mayor council meet.

The mayors said they needed more powers - administrative and financial - to ensure better development in their areas. City mayor, Jyoti Khandewal said, "We have been assured that talk will be held soon with chief minister Ashok Gehlot and UDH minster, Shanti Dhariwal." In the council mayor of Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer and Bikaner participated, while Jodhpur mayor did not attend the meetingDuring the meeting the mayors also made discussion on their demand that the mayors should have the power to fill the annual confidential report (ACR) of the chief executive officer. "If the power of filling the ACR comes under the jurisdiction of the mayor a lot of problems will be resolved." added KhandelwalIt was also discussed that chief executive officer misuse their financial power as the mayors are not kept in the loop. Bikaner mayor Bhavani Shankar Sharma said, " Without consulting the mayor, the CEO uses the funds.

" Agreeing to the fact, mayors explained people have a wrong notion that a mayor can do everything and has unlimited powers and resources at his/her disposal. They are perhaps oblivious of the fact that a mayor has absolutely no or rather minimal financial and administrative powers at his/her disposal and instead it is the municipal commissioner who wields real and unchallenged power.Khandelwal claimed, we are demanding to seek revision in 74th constitutional Amendment Act and its implementation on the lines of southern states which provide a city-government concept where mayor gets the right to transfer of the officers.In the meeting the city mayor also informed that she recently met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in this regard.