Even after the formation of its general board, the newly set up Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation still has very little work on its hands.
Even after the formation of its general board, the newly set up Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) still has very little work on its hands. The civic body has only cleanliness and health related work on its job chart. Therefore, it has asked the state government to hand over to it charge of various departments.
The newly elected body, led by the Congress, was formed following elections in April. Congress had won 18 of 33 seats in the state capital. However, the GMC has very little work to do as the state government has given it only those departments that were earlier handled by the notified area authorities. The civic body has only sweeping and health related works to take care of.
Gandhinagar mayor Mahendra Rana said that GMC has passed a resolution and sent it to the state government for transferring to it operations of various departments such as education, hospitals, drainage and water supply. "We sent the proposal to the state government around a month back and are waiting for its response," Rana added.
However, urban development minister Nitin Patel pleaded ignorance about receiving any such proposal. "I am not aware of such a development. If anything has come from them (GMC), the department will look into the matter and do the needful," the minister said.
Sources in the BJP believe that the GMC does not have sufficient financial resources to shoulder responsibilities of a civic body. "If the state government transfers all the departments to GMC, how will the latter raise money to provide basic amenities to people? Ultimately, people will have to suffer," said sources.
Meanwhile, the government has handed over the task of collecting professional tax to the civic body and GMC is likely to generate revenue of around Rs2 crore from the first tax to be levied in the capital city. The civic authority has already invited suggestions and objections regarding fixing property tax rates in the city. The deadline for submission of suggestions and objections is coming to an end and the GMC is likely to take a decision about it at the general board meeting scheduled on August 17.
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