Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

In News

• President has given a nod to Bill that unifies three Delhi MCDs under Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

About the Bill

• Merging 3 MCD’s: With the passage of the three existing civic bodies, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), will now be re-unified.
• Reduction in ward numbers: This means that the number of wards could be reduced to 250 from 272.
• Allocation of seats: the total number of seats of councillors and the number of seats reserved for the members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in the corporation, shall, at the time of the establishment of the corporation, be as determined by the Centre and in no case, be more than 250.
• The unified body could be dubbed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and all the liabilities, employees, revenue sources of the SDMC, EDMC and NDMC will soon be transferred to the MCD.
• Transfer of power and property: All properties, movable and immovable, of or belonging to the erstwhile corporations shall vest in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
  • All the rights and liabilities of the erstwhile corporations shall be transferred to and be the rights and liabilities of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
• Constitutionally: This Bill is in accordance with the Constitution. The Centre has the power to enact laws in the Union Territory of Delhi.

What was the need?

• Increasing financial difficulties of the three Municipal Corporations in Delhi due to the trifurcation.
• Delay in payment and salaries: These financial constraints had reportedly left the MCDs incapacitated to make timely payment of salaries and retirement benefits to their employees.
• 2022 MCD election: Now that the MCD bill has received the President’s nod, the delimitation process is expected to begin shortly. 
  • Once the official notification is issued regarding the completion of the delimitation process, the 2022 MCD election will be scheduled.
• Planning and optimal utilisation of resources: The unification of the municipal corporations in Delhi will ensure synergised and strategic planning and optimal utilisation of resources.

Significance of MCD reunification

• Unify the three municipal corporations into a single, integrated and well-equipped entity.
• Ensure a robust mechanism for optimal utilisation of resources.
• Bring greater transparency, improved governance.
• Efficient delivery of civic service.

What is Municipal Corporation?

• About:
  • Municipal Corporations are local level governments in India. It’s also called as Mahanagar Palika, Nagar Palika, Nagar Nigam, City Corporation, etc. 
  • The Municipal Corporation is responsible for the development of any Metropolitan City having a population of more than one million people. 
  • The 74th Amendment Act established the types of urban local government formations and operations. 
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • In the Constitution of India, no provision was made for the establishment of local self-government, except the incorporation of Article 40 in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
  • The 74th Amendment Act, 1992 has inserted a new Part IX-A into the Constitution which deals with the administration of Municipalities and Nagar Palikas.
  • It consists of Article 243P to 243ZG. It also added a new twelfth schedule to the Constitution. The 12th schedule consists of 18 items.
• Functions:
  • Urban planning including town planning.
  • Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
  • Planning for economic and social development
  • Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes.
  • Public health, sanitation conservancy, and solid waste management.
  • Fire services.
  • Urban forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects.
  • Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
  • Slum improvement and up-gradation.
  • Urban poverty alleviation.
• Composition:
  • Based on the population of that particular city, the city or Municipal Area is divided into certain wards. 
  • A representative is chosen for each ward by the people in that ward. A chosen representative of a particular ward is called as councilor or corporator. Corporators are elected for a period of five years.
• Elections of MC:
  • The elections to the Municipal Corporations are conducted under the guidance, direction, superintendence and control of the State Election Commission. 

Source: TH