The missing tiers

The missing tiers

Article:

1-Mathew Idiculla, lawyer and researcher on urban issues, analyse the reasons behind disempowerment and depoliticisation of urban local government.

Important Analyses:

2- The passage of 73 rd  and 74^th  Amendment came into force  in 1993

3- 73^rd amendment deals with creation of panchayats, while 74^th amendment deals with creation of municipalities.

4- Problems associated with 74 amendment act in the Constitution.

• Many of its key provisions are not mandatory for state government.
• 12^th schedule do not include essential such as urban transportation, housing or urban commons.
• Power in urban areas is concentrate in a single municipal bodies.
• Municipalities not created in areas declared industrial townships.
• Unlike the 73rd Amendment which provides for three levels of panchayats (village, taluk, and district levels), power in urban areas is concentrated in a single municipal body (whether it is a municipal corporation, municipal council or town panchayat).

5. Author raise concern about the continuous dis empowering of local government by state government

• In most municipal corporation, Mayor is the ceremonial head while executive power is vested with the state government appointed commissioner.
• this is usually done to curtail the power of local level politician.

6. some other concerns raised by author about urban local government are

• lack of proper finance
• Administrative capacity of ULBs is weak which led yo implementation failure
• By creating many parastatal agencies like urban development authorities (which build infrastructure) and public corporations (which provide services such as water, electricity and transportation)
• Local government need to take permission of state government for levying taxes.

7. Smart cities mission of central government further delegate the power of local bodies.

• smart cities program mandates for the creation of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) which will have “operational independence and autonomy in decision making and mission implementation”.

8. Ward committee and Metropolitan planning failed to create civic activism as envisaged by 74th amendment.
9. Author suggested for reform in urban governance which vests power in a singular municipality