FGG resents government move to tweak Municipal Act

Hyderabad: Forum for Good Governance (FGG) on Friday took exception to the decision of Telangana government to bring in legislation amending Municipal Act in a hasty manner. The FGG wanted the government to take suggestions from civil societies before passing the Act.

FGG Secretary M Padmanabha Reddy said there are some reservations about the way the government is rushing to amend the Municipal Act. The intention of the government to bring down corruption to zero level is a good initiative but before finalising, suggestions from people should have been taken.

The bill after drafting should have be put in public domain for suggestions and incorporating their suggestions (to the extent possible) then it should have been introduced in the Assembly. The bill is kept as a closely guarded secret, said Reddy.

The FGG proposed some suggestions for the government for amendments in the Act. The FGG secretary said Article 243-S of Constitution stipulates of constitution of ward committees in every urban local bodies.

However, the corporators were appointing their family members as ward members. The rules say that representatives of NGOs, residential welfare associations and prominent citizens residing in the ward should be elected as ward committee members.

In Gram Panchayat elections, the State Election Commission conducts elections to ward members, presidents of Gram Panchayats, MPTCs, ZPTCs and Chairpersons of Zilla Parishads.

Whereas in case of urban local bodies, the SEC does not conduct elections and the corporators nominate the ward committee members. The FGG wanted the government to set right this anomaly.

The FGG further wanted the SEC to conduct ward committee members and areas Sabha representatives.