Metropolitan Planning Council mooted

The issue was discussed in detail at a symposium on the participation of municipal bodies in planning process’ organised by local chapter of Institute of Town Planners, India, at Institution of Engineers Halls. Speakers included D S Meshram, Chief Town Planner, Union Urban Development Ministry, A R Patharkar, Director, state Town Planning Department and Shrinivas Patil, Chairman, NIT.

Meshram explained the significance of the historic amendment giving the municipal bodies the prime role of formulating plans. The civic bodies would no longer be responsible merely for maintenance of civic facilities. In a three-tier system envisaged in the 74th amendment, there will be Nagar Panchayats’ at the lowest level, Municipal Councils’ at the middle level and Municipal Corporations for big cities.

For the first time ever in independent India these bodies would be responsible for formulating a socio-economic development plan for the areas they cover.

Another major amendment is about creation of DPCs, which will be much different from the existing District Planning and Development Councils (DPDCs). The DPCs will not merely collect the data and statistical information and pass on the same in a tabulated form to the state authorities. These bodies would be directly responsible for preparing socio-economic development plans.

Bigger cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur having population of over 10 lakhs, would have MPCs.

It is a mandatory provision and no state government can refuse to constitute such bodies for urban planning. MPCs would be constituted in such a manner that two-thirds of the members would be directly elected by citizens and the remaining one-third would be nominated by the state government from amongst experts in municipal administration, financial matters and town planning. Meshram described it as a historic step since it would ensure direct participation of people’s representatives in the planning process.

In his speech, Patharkar said the State Government has given a serious thought to these provisions and has already initiated steps towards constituting MPCs and DPCs.

A committee constituted to study the existing provisions of different acts and laws governing municipal bodies, non-municipal bodies and the DPDCs in the light of the amendment and also to suggest patterns for setting up MPCs and DPCs. A draft bill in this regard prepared by the committee is under active consideration’ of the state government, he said and added that Chief Minister Manohar Joshi himself had a discussion with the committee members. The draft bill has redefined the role of NIT and other non-municipal bodies.NIT Chairman Shrinivas Patil and Prof S A Deshpande of Department of Architecture, VRCE were among other participants. Kulkarni, President and Mendhekar of the Institute of Town Planners were also present.