The Pioneer 11.11.2010
Govts fail to improve urban local bodies in UttarakhandPNS | Dehradun
Though 10 years have passed since the formation of Uttarakhand, the successive State Governments have failed to improve the condition of Urban Local Bodies in the State. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun which is the sole municipal corporation in Uttarakhand has also been unable to function effectively as required due to factors including the indifferent attitude of the State Government towards the condition of ULBs.
It is pertinent to note that there are a total of 63 ULBs in Uttarakhand which include one municipal corporation, 32 municipal boards and 30 Nagar Panchayats with about 40,000 people employed in these local bodies. The State Government has expressed its willingness to facilitate the implementation of the 74th Constitutional (Amendment) Act to empower the ULBs but so far the required action has not been taken by the State.
House tax is one of the major sources of income for the local bodies but the income from this source has been severely decreased due to imbalances in house tax rates as those with connections are able to reach an unofficial settlement wherein they pay less than the required amount in tax.
The income of local bodies is further affected negatively due to the outdated rates at which rents for shops owned by local bodies and commercial taxes are collected. The MCD, which is the sole municipal corporation in Uttarakhand, is also suffering from the negative repercussions of different factors including the apathetic attitude of the State Government.
The Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli had facilitated the introduction of the self-assessment system of building tax calculation which would not benefit the building owners but also cause a substantial increase in the revenue income of the MCD. However, the State Government stalled the implementation of this policy which is presently being perused by the Government.
The campaigns undertaken by the MCD against land encroachments, unauthorised constructions and illegal advertisement hoarding have also been repeatedly thwarted due to political interference allowed by the State Government. The State Government plans to upgrade a couple of municipal councils to the status of municipal corporations but this according to the Dehradun Mayor would not be a major achievement considering the debilitated condition of the sole municipal corporation of Uttarakhand.
