Structure of Municipal Corporation

Can you tell me about the structure/composition of Municipal Corporations in India? Also tell me about the functions of Municipal Corporations in India?

[pawan]

A Municipal Corporation, City Corporation, Mahanagar Palika, Mahanagar Nigam or Nagar Nigam is a local government in India that administers urban areas with a population of more than one million.

Composition

The area administered by a Municipal Corporation is known as a municipal area. Each municipal area is divided into territorial constituencies known as wards.

A Corporation is made up of a Wards Committee. Each ward has 1 seat in the Wards Committee. Members are elected to Wards Committee on the basis of adult franchise for a term of 5 years. The members are known as Councillors or Corporators.

The number of wards in a municipal area is resolute by the population of the city. Some seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and women.

A State can choose to make up additional Committees to carry functions of urban local governance, in addition to the Wards Committees.

With Councillors elected from the wards, the legislature of a state may also choose to make provisions for the representation of persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration and the Commissioners of additional committees that the State may have constituted.

If a State legislature appoints a person from the first category to a Wards Committee, that individual will not have the right to vote in the meetings of the Municipal Corporation.

The largest corporations are in 6 metropolitan cities of India, viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the richest municipal corporation in India.

Functions

Urban planning including town planning.
Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
Planning for economic and social development.
Roads and bridges.
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 upgradation.
Urban poverty alleviation.
Provision of urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, playgrounds.
Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects.
Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums.
Cattle pounds; prevention of cruelty to animals.
Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
Public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences.
Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries