Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs appoints high-power committee to draft model for urban governance

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], November 13 (ANI): The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of India has appointed a high-power committee, scheduled to meet on October 19, to draft a model for urban governance.
Among the members of this committee is Tikender Singh Pawar, former Deputy Mayor of Shimla and an environmental expert. Formed under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the committee also includes officials from the central government. Their task is to prepare a model framework for cities, which will aid in drafting a Model Municipal Act focusing on urban planning, city governance, and sustainable development. They have been given three months to submit a report, though committee members are seeking an extension, suggesting that six months would be more realistic due to the complexity of the task.
Tikender Singh Pawar stated that he is also a member of the Kerala State Forest Commission, where a report preparation took one year, which he feels is a more suitable timeline for comprehensive analysis. He believes that preparing a model for city governance in just three months is inadequate.
The committee has also been assigned the task of defining the Model Municipal Act, examining aspects such as city governance, the distribution of powers, and the extent of public participation. As Pawar explained, the committee will study global best practices to explore how citizens' participation in urban governance can be enhanced, including the role of ward assemblies.
Pawar emphasized that, unlike Shimla's 2005 Municipal Act, the model must empower local governance, similar to the Mayor-in-Council system found in Kolkata Bengal or Bhopal. He pointed out that, currently, executive powers are held by the Commissioner in some cities rather than the elected Mayor, which dilutes local governance. He envisions a framework where local authorities and residents play a central role in urban planning, with minimal interference from central ministries.
The proposed model will consider the unique needs of each state, as urban development is a state subject in India. The committee will study various city structures to ensure the model promotes genuine public involvement in governance. Pawar pointed out that a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible: a model that might work for a metropolitan city like Mumbai would not necessarily be appropriate for hill towns in the Himalayas.
Currently, India has approximately 4,500 statutory cities and about 5,000 census towns. However, some rural areas classified as towns do not have an urban governance structure and rely on the panchayat system, which is insufficient for such settings. This reality will be incorporated into the model, ensuring adaptability across regions. Pawar suggested that his appointment to the committee may be due to his work in urban visioning documents for 25-30 cities and his experience with Kerala's climate committee. This experience includes drafting a 25-year vision document, which could be beneficial for the committee's efforts.
The first meeting of this high-power committee on October 19 will include bureaucrats as well as experts from institutes like the National Institute of Urban Affairs, All India Institute of Local Self-Government, and organizations such as Praja Foundation and Janaagraha. State officials, including Principal Secretaries and Chief Secretaries, will also contribute, representing a mix of bureaucratic and expert perspectives. The committee aims to produce a model within the stipulated three months, though they are seeking additional time. They will consult with experienced officials, including former Mayors such as Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur and Ashok Bhattacharya from Siliguri, as well as urban development ministers. The goal is to create a well-rounded model that considers various insights.
Pawar underscored that the model should reflect the essence of city governance, preventing the Mayor or the institution of the Mayor from being relegated to a "rubber stamp." Instead, the model should ensure that the office of the Mayor is empowered and that citizens have meaningful participation in governance. (ANI)