The mission of the complete Panchayati Raj including formation of representative Urban Local Bodies does not conclude merely with elections to these bodies and empowering them with fiscal autonomy and lineated functions alone but to lend credence to a continued process of streamlining the functioning of the Municipal Corporations , Municipal Committees and Urban Local Bodies throughout Jammu and Kashmir, more is being done . There has always remained the desire that Urban Local Bodies needed to be paid equal if not more attention in respect of augmenting their strength and hence their utility which is directly proportionate to vast urbanisation and spurt in population. We know that among all urban local Governments, Municipal Corporations enjoy more fiscal autonomy and functions. They deal with a diversified economic base with State Governments directly ensuring better utility services for larger groups of population.
With that motive in mind , it has now been decided that Jammu and Kashmir would get 13 more Municipal Councils upping the total strength to 19. This is being done by up grading 13 Municipal Committees to Municipal Councils .The decision to this effect was taken recently in the Administrative Council meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu. It may be recalled that so far there were only six Municipal Councils in Jammu and Kashmir , 3 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions . The move also provides a wider base in next elections as the Municipal Councils will have more wards , say 17 to 21 as against 7 to 13 in the Municipal Committees making them democratically more representative. Not only that, more funds for providing increased and quality utility services to the citizens would fructify by increasing the funding base of the Municipal Councils. Besides, taking up such developmental activities is now expected more than before which aimed at urban poverty alleviation. The personnel heading the Municipal Councils too are elevated in cadre from the posts of Executive Officers to Chief Executive Officers which are in total 17 and also creation of 19 posts of Accounts Officers which again was going to strengthen the administrative structure besides resulting in better cadre management. The process of selection of the CEOs would be in the form of initial deputations from JK Administrative Service of equivalent rank and scale while Accounts Officers’ posts will be filled by deputations from J and K Accounts (Gazetted) Services.
The decision is not only timely but would go a long way to strengthen the entire structure of urban local governance in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. In other words, there would now be more focus on urban and town planning which is urgently required in both the regions . In the same way, roads and bridges, public health, sanitation and preventive healthcare would get pointed attention. What is , however, urgently needed is how best and in varied ways could solid waste management be ensured so that mere dumping at isolated places and keeping lot of such material untreated could be avoided. Since it is mainly the criteria of population component for conducting the exercise of upgrading Municipal Committees as Municipal Councils , latest census figures available that of 2011 were made the base , ie, more than 30000 persons. With this commendable move of the UT Government , let us hope the same would create enough avenues and opportunities to really bring about comparative perceptible improvement and development of respective cities and towns. Speedy execution of work in two Municipal Corporations, completion of 42 languishing projects and other works could now get focussed attention.
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