PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The State Institute for Empowering and Transforming Uttarakhand (SETU) commission submitted its report on empowerment of urban bodies to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the State secretariat on Wednesday.
The vice chairman of the SETU commission, Raj Shekhar Joshi said that in the report suggestions have been given for making the municipal corporations and municipal bodies self-reliant and empowered. Suggestions on urban development and improving the conditions of the cities have also been given in the report.
The key points of the report are to increase financial autonomy and revenue raising capacity to make these bodies self-reliant and to transfer 18 functions (such as water supply, public health, urban planning) included in the 12th Schedule of the Indian constitution to the urban local bodies.
The report recommends promoting smart governance, GIS mapping and data-based decision making for technological innovation. Organising training programmes for the employees and elected representatives of the bodies has been suggested in the report. It also provides detailed information about the reforms made in this direction in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Suggestions have also been given to effectively adapt the models of successful urban bodies of the country to the specific needs of Uttarakhand. The report also mentions giving priority to the opinion of the common people in disaster-resistant planning and landslide management planning.
Cabinet minister Dhan Singh Rawat, chief secretary Anand Bardhan, Urban Development secretary Nitesh Jha and others were present on the occasion.
