The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS,) on the 19th of July, implemented the new Municipal Bill in the State.
The TRS, on the 18th of July, presented the drafted bill and asked the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs,) Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Cabinet Ministers to scrutinise it.
K. Chandrashekhar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana, introduced the new Telangana Municipalities Bill, which was passed in the Legislative Assembly on the 19th of July.
The new Bill will aim at making the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Telangana transparent and accountable. The Telangana Municipalities Bill will make the ULBs more answerable and accountable for their actions.
The residents of Telangana will also benefit from the Act, as strict and immediate actions will be taken against the Municipal officials if they will neglect their work or take bribes.
The Bill also promotes the use of technology to reduce the problems of Telangana residents and have a friendly and transparent relation between the officials and the people of the State.
KCR said, a few provisions under the existing Act were irrelevant and needed to be changed with time.
Other reasons to introduce the Municipal Bill are to utilise technology for the convenience of citizens and a new orientation in legal work, as the previous bill lacked these features.
According to sources, as per the new Municipal Bill, district collectors will be entrusted with more powers over the ULBs wherein they can even take strict actions such as suspension against the elected representatives and officials of the ULBs in their respective districts.
The new Bill comes at a time when the Municipal elections are scheduled to be held in the first week of August.
The Telangana Municipalities Bill will not be applicable to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC,) as the GHMC falls under the purview of the Hyderabad Municipal Act (HMA.)
The TRS Government also decided to increase the municipal corporations in the State, following which, the State will have 13 municipal corporations.
As of now, there are municipal corporations situated in Greater Warangal, Karimnagar, Ramagundam and Nizamabad. However, after the approval of the creation of additional corporations, Badangpet, Bandlaguda Jagir and Meerpet (merger of Meerpet and Jillelaguda) in Ranga Reddy district, Boduppal, Peerzadiguda, Jawaharnagar and Nizampet in Medchal-Malkajgiri district will also have municipal corporations.
The new Bill also emphasises on a Green Action Plan. KCR also asked all the commissioners to come up with a ‘Green Action Plan’ for a five year period.
The Bill will also ensure all the ULBs have 10 % of their budget dedicated to ‘Green Budget’ to meet the expenses for the promotion, plantation and maintenance of green spaces in urban areas. The commissioners should also have nurseries to meet the needs of each municipality.
In the Bill, the TRS Government also included the constitution of a Common Municipal Service for the State for various cadres of officers and employees in the ULBs, including the GHMC and the urban development authorities.
Apart from this, the State also plans to establish the Telangana State Institute of Urban Excellence, where the representatives and municipal officials will get proper training regularly.
The new Telangana Municipal Bill will ensure transparent and citizen friendly urban local bodies exist in the State for the development of the people of Telangana.
Stay tuned for further updates.
