You must have heard of a municipal corporation earlier. It is usually supervised by the municipal commissioner and Mayor. A municipal corporation of India functions in various ways. There is of course the municipal corporation tax structure including property taxes, online services like municipal corporation online payment and mcd house tax payments among others while the municipal corporation website is the source of all services like complaints, birth/death certificates, licenses and so on. There are varying mcd property tax websites for different States and cities in India and you should find out this municipal corporation official website likewise. A municipal corporation is thus a local Government in the country which has responsibility for administration of urban zones with populations exceeding one million individuals. The growing urbanization and population in several Indian cities are key reasons for the establishment of these local governing bodies which may work towards offering community services and infrastructure including healthcare, housing, transportation, roads, water supply, sewerage, power supply, education and so on. This is done through collection of property taxes and other grants from State Governments. The 74th Amendment is what clearly outlined the formation aspects of local urban Governments and their specific activities.
Learning more about Indian municipal corporations
You should carefully observe the function of municipal corporations in India. The main function of municipal corporation is administration of the particular region or area within its jurisdiction in all possible aspects. There are manifold municipal corporation duties to be undertaken as well. These corporations are local-level Governments in the country and are also known by various names like City Corporation, Mahanagar Palika, Nagar Nigam, Nagar Palika and more. The key function of the municipal corporation of any city is its administration. The corporations are majorly dependent upon taxes for revenues and other sources include stamp duty, property registration charges, drainage taxes, professional taxes, water taxes and other State Government grants. The richest municipal corporation in the country is the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) which administers the city of Mumbai and its surrounding areas.
Some other names for corporations
Some of the commonly used names include Nagar Nigam which is used across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttarakhand among other States and also Nagara Nigama for Punjab, Mahanagar Palika for Maharashtra and Goa, Mahanagara Palike for Karnataka, Pouro Nigom for Assam and West Bengal, Mahanagar Seva Sadan for Gujarat, Nagar Palika Nigam for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and Pur Porishod for Tripura. It is also known as Palaka Samstha in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh while being called Maanagaraatchi in Tamil Nadu and Nagara Sabha in Kerala. There are several varying names for city municipal corporations, i.e. while Kolkata Municipal Corporation govern Kolkata, Vadodara city in Gujarat is governed by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, locally called Vadodara Mahanagar Seva Sadan. The Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation is known as BBMP or Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.
Some key details about municipal corporations
The area under administration of a municipal corporation will be called as a municipal area. Every municipal area is subdivided into territorial zones that are called wards. A municipal corporation is comprised of a wards committee. Every ward contains a seat in this wards committee. Members are elected to these committees through votes for 5 year terms. They are called corporators or councilors and the number of wards in the municipal area will be worked out on the basis of the city population. Some seats remain reserved for scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, women and backward classes.
A State may choose to set up added committees for executing functions of urban local governance along with the wards committees. Additionally, the State legislature may have provisions made for representation of people with special knowledge or municipal administration experience. If a State legislature appoints any first category individually to this committee, then he/she will not possess the right to vote in the meetings while MPs, commissioners and MLAs will have the right to vote in the meetings.
Administrative Aspects
The Mayor is the administrative head of the municipal corporation although in most territories and States of the country, the role is majorly ceremonial since the municipal commissioner has the executive powers. The Mayor’s office includes chairing the meetings of the corporation and also being the city’s First Citizen. Based on the 1888 Amended Municipal Corporation Act, the Deputy Mayor is only appointed by the Mayor. The tenure of both these individuals will be 5 years. In 7 States, i.e. Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand, mayors are elected directly by people and have executive municipal corporation powers likewise. Executive officers have the responsibility of tracking execution of all programs linked to corporation development and planning while ensuring suitable coordination between the councilors and mayor alike.
Any party that wins more than 50% of total seats in the corporation will win the election in question. It can elect its own Mayor and the municipal commissioner will be appointed by the State Government and is an IAS officer usually. The commissioner will implement all corporation policies and prepare the budget while the Mayor will have a role that is more political in nature.
Municipal Corporation Functions
The Indian Constitution’s 12th Schedule lists out subjects under the responsibility of the municipal corporation. Corporations may be entrusted with responsibility for performing functions and implementation of schemes in relation to those matters listed within the 12th Schedule. Here are some of the functions-
- Town and urban planning.
- Land use regulation and building construction
- Economic and social development planning
- Water supply for industrial, commercial and domestic purposes
- Fire services
- Public health, solid waste management and sanitation conservancy
- Slum upgradation and improvement
- Safeguarding weaker sections and their interests including those who are mentally disabled and handicapped
- Urban forestry, safeguarding the environment and promoting ecological goals
- Alleviating urban poverty
- Providing urban facilities and amenities like gardens, parks, playgrounds and also promoting cultural and educational aspects
- Taking care of cremations, cremation grounds, electric crematoriums, burial grounds and burials
- Preventing cruelty to animals and taking care of cattle pounds
- Providing statistics including registration of deaths and births
- Regulating tanneries and slaughter houses
- Public amenities like parking lots, street lighting, public conveniences and bus stops
Revenue Sources
The municipal corporation may have the following revenue sources-
- Water supply bills
- Commercial vehicle registration taxes
- Municipal corporation market, house, plaza rent
- Property taxes
- Grants given by State Government
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is the role and importance of municipalities?
A municipality is a single administrative division that has corporate powers and status for jurisdiction and self government as granted by regional and national laws, to which it remains a subordinate. A municipality is a general purpose administrative subdivision as opposed to any special purpose district.
What are the functions for municipal corporation and municipality?
The municipal corporation has many functions including development and maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure like roads, drainage, sewerage, crematoriums, cemeteries, water and electric supplies, abattoirs, gullies, parks, markets, recreational centers, transportation, sanitation, public areas, beaches, etc. The functions also include town and urban planning, regulation of land use and building construction, urban forestry, solid waste management and more.
Which are the other tasks of a municipal corporation Class 6?
The maintenance of health and sanitation, registration of births and deaths and provision of primary education are functions of municipal corporation although disposal of civil disputes is not within its purview.
