Mumbai
As Mumbai gears up to vote for its 227 elected representatives for Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai on 16th February 2012 it is necessary to know how the local self government ie. MCGM functions.
The details are as follows:
Demographic Characteristics of Mumbai
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai covers an area of over 437.71 sq.kms, catering to the civic needs of over 1,19,14,398 persons as per Census 2001.
The MCGM area is divided into city and suburbs. The Mumbai City has an area of 68.71 sq. kms. and has 9 Municipal Wards. The Municipal Suburban covers an area of 369 sq. kms. which includes 9 Western and 6 Eastern Suburbs.
Population distribution and growth within the Corporation
The population of Greater Mumbai was 29,66,902 in 1951; 41,52,056 in 1961; 59,70,575 in 1971; 82,27,332 in 1981 and 99,09,547 in 1991 and 1,19,14,398 in 2001. The growth rate for Mumbai in the decade 1991-2001 was 4.79%. The sex ratio in 2001 was 774. The growth rate for Mumbai Suburbs in the decade 1991-2001 was 27.20 %. The sex ratio in 2001 was 826.
Administration of the MCGM
The Bombay Municipal Corporation Act of 1888 has specified nine statutory collateral authorities charged with distinct responsibilities of city government. These nine municipal authorities are Corporation General Body, Standing Committee, Improvements Committee, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Committee, Education Committee, Wards Committee, Mayor, Municipal Commissioner and General Manager of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking. Each operates within the limits set for it. The Corporation General Body is the final decision making authority on the deliberative side, which comprises 227 elected Councillors. The Standing Committee is a powerful statutory committee, which scrutinises municipal accounts. It controls the finances of the Corporation. Budget is debated and processed through the Standing Committee. The Improvements Committee has power of acquisition of immovable property, acquisition of land required for public purposes specified in plans and redevelopment of property for improvement of the city. The Education Committee is responsible for primary education. It has the power to appoint officers in Education Department, levy education cess. It prepares the budget pertaining to primary education. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Committee prepares the budget of the Corporation pertaining to transport and electricity for the city. The General Manager B.E.S & T Undertaking (appointed by the Corporation with the approval of the State Government), heads the administration of the B.E.S & T Undertaking.
The office of the Mayor combines a functional role of chairing the Corporation meeting as well as ceremonial role associated with being the first citizen of the city. As per the amended Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, the Corporation elects a Deputy Mayor. The tenure of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is of two and half years.
The Commissioner, a key figure in the local self - government is the executive head. He is the final administrative authority for the local self-government of Mumbai.
The Municipal Secretary and Municipal Chief Auditor’s work come under the purview of Standing Committee. The role of Municipal Secretary is of immense importance. The incumbent is secretary of the Corporation and has the custody of all papers and documents connected with the proceedings of the Corporation and any committee appointed by the Corporation. Preparation and circulation of agenda for the meetings, documenting the minutes of the meetings and keeping records, conducting annual elections for the post of Chairpersons of various committees are some of the functions, which fall within his/her purview. The Municipal Secretary has to advise the Mayor in conducting business of the house. Thus the Municipal Secretary controls the business of the Corporation and ensures its smooth functioning without being in limelight.
As per the provisions of the Maharashtra Act, No. XLIV of 1975, the Tree Authority was constituted in the year 1976 by the Corporation for the purpose of Protection, Preservation and Plantation of trees. The authority was reconstituted in 1997, with 13 councillors as its members. Seven Nominated Members were appointed on the Tree Authority on 28th July 1997.
Apart from the Statutory Committees, the Corporation has also appointed six special committees, viz. Works Committee (City), Works Committee (Suburbs), Public Health Committee, Markets and Gardens Committee, Law, Revenue and General Purposes Committee, and Women and Child Welfare Committee, which deal with the specified subjects.
The Corporation has appointed four Consultative Committees viz. Grants-in Aid Committee, Suvarna Jayanti Rozgar Yojana Implementation, Planning Committee and Review Committee each for City, Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs.
Wards Committees in Mumbai
There are sixteen Wards Committees in Mumbai, namely (i) A, B and E (ii) C and D (iii) F/ South and F/ North (iv) G/ South and (v) G/North Wards Committees in island city. (vi) H / East and H/ West (vii) K/ East (viii) K/ West (ix) P/South (x) P/North (xi) R/South (xii) R/North and R Centre Wards Committees in Western Suburbs and (xiii) M/ East and M/ West (xiv) S and T (xv) L Wards Committees and (xvi) N Wards Committees in Eastern Suburbs.
There are 24 Administrative Wards comprising 227 electoral wards. Since ‘one man one vote’ principle is followed, there are 227 elected representatives in all. Administrative wards were formed for administrative division of work. For purposes of Wards Committees, the electoral wards have been aggregated into 16 groups. However, the grouping is not uniform.
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