The Times of India              03.08.2013

GMC mayor and deputy take charge

GUWAHATI: The newly elected mayor of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Abir Patra and deputy mayor Nilakshi Talukdar took charge of their offices on Friday. Taking charge of the office that was laying vacant since 2008, senior Congressman Patra said that he will focus on solving civic problems being faced by residents of the city on a priority basis.

"I have taken charge as the mayor of the GMC at a time when the municipality faces the mammoth task of making Guwahati a modern city in the true sense. Starting from urban flooding to lack of adequate streetlights, the city's residents have been facing problems on various fronts. It is impossible to solve all the civic problems in a five-year term. So, I am going to give top priority to urban floods, installation of streetlights and better solid waste management," Patra told TOI.

He added that among the other priority areas, GMC will approach the Centre in the coming days for financial assistance to build better drainage facilities in the city. "We need at least six months to bring some noticeable changes in the city," Patra said. He added that the grievance redressal mechanism of the GMC will be strengthened in order to make it easier for the public to lodge complaints regarding civic problems.

Now, the mayor-in-council of the municipality has to be formed. GMC commissioner S Viswanathan said that the mayor-in-council has to be formed within 15 days of oath-taking by the councillors, which is by August 15. "Along with seven councillors and the mayor and deputy mayor, the mayor-in-council will be formed to look after various developmental activities under the GMC," said Viswanathan.

An official of the GMC said that there will be seven separate committees under the mayor-in-council. "Each committee will be headed by a chairman, who will be assisted by a presiding officer and a deputy presiding officer. The chairman and the presiding officers will be chosen by the mayor from the councillors," the official said.

The Hindu               02.08.2013

Agitation in Seemandhra region casts a shadow on municipal polls

Special Correspondent

With violent protests breaking out in Andhra and Rayalaseema districts against the decision to bifurcate the State, uncertainty prevails over the proposed elections to municipalities.

Though Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had announced that the government was determined to hold elections to municipalities after the panchayat elections, in the changed scenario with a disturbed law and order situation, doubts are being raised about the feasibility of holding elections at this juncture.

Sources in the government said the Municipal Administration department had completed the survey to determine the BC population and the process of reservation of municipalities and wards sent to the government for approval.

The State Election Commission called for a meeting on August 2 to assess the preparedness of the MA & UD department. It will take a call on the schedule of elections to urban civic bodies, sources added.

The government, which has been putting off municipal elections for over two years, had submitted an affidavit to the High Court that it would complete the elections by September 3. Unlike the three-phase panchayat elections- the last phase was held on Wednesday- municipal elections would be held on the basis of political party symbols and thus would give a fair idea of the grass root network of different political parties.

Sources said that though the plan was to hold municipal elections within three weeks after the panchayat elections, in the wake of the emotionally surcharged situation prevailing in Seemandhra, the political parties, particularly the Congress party, is wary of the backlash of people’s anger over the decision to bifurcate the State with Hyderabad as common capital for 10 years, they added.

For the same reason, it is however expected to reap the benefits in Telangana region. But if elections are to be held, they should be held across the State including Seemandhra. “It is for the State Election Commission to assess the situation and issue notification. On our part, we have completed the list of reservations and it has to be approved by the Chief Minister,” sources said.

However, sources said that if the present situation and ongoing agitation is not amenable to holding elections, then the government will have to submit an affidavit to the High Court explaining the reasons for more time. It is expected that the government may decide to go for elections after the process of formation of the Telangana State is completed, which is at least four to five months away.