The Hindu 27.09.2009
All TPs will be upgraded to TMCs, says Jarkiholi
Staff Correspondent
| Matter to be placed before the Cabinet soon |
The decision has been taken by a committee
TMCs to be created on the basis of 2001 Census
Belgaum: Minister for Municipalities and Urban Local Bodies Balachandra L. Jarkiholi has said that all the 52 town panchayats in the State will be upgraded to town municipal councils (TMCs) with effect from April 2010.
Announcing this here on Saturday, Mr. Jarkiholi said that the decision was taken by a five-member committee on September 24.
The matter would be placed before the Cabinet for approval soon.
Mr. Jarkiholi said that the TMCs would be created on the basis of the 2001 Census. The change in the status of these town-level bodies would not impose a major burden on the Government. However, the Government needed to provide an additional sum of approximately Rs. 40 crore towards payment of salaries on account of an increase in staff strength by 676.
The Finance Department had already given its consent in this regard.
He said this was a major development, particularly for his Ministry. All the town panchayats had been demanding that they be upgraded to town municipal councils in order to get additional funds and expedite development.
The new TMCs would get grants in addition to the annual grant of Rs. 5 crore. This would enable them to take up major civic works such as improvement of drinking water and drainage systems.
The Minister said there was a similar demand that gram panchayats be upgraded to town panchayats.
At present, there were 347 such proposals before the Government. However, a decision could not be taken owing to technical reasons in view of the elections to the gram panchayats in January.
