Indian administrative system is a three tier system where control flows from upward to towards, i.e, from centre to state and from state to district and village level. In cities the responsibility of providing adequate basic amenities to the citizens lies in hands of Municipal Corporation where as in rural areas it lies in hands of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Mumbai being the metropolitan city has two administrative local bodies to look after the control of providing basic infrastructure facilities to the citizens. The main body is Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and the other is Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). A brief introduction of both these bodies is mentioned below:
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai: Established in 1882 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is the first Municipal Corporation of India and is the primary agency looking after the urban government of Greater Mumbai.
Since its establishment the city of Mumbai has witnessed the rise and fall of various historical events. The city came under the control of British rule in 1661 when it was gifted to King Charles II of England as a part of dowry when he married the Portuguese Princess Catherine. Besides this Mumbai earlier known as Bombay is the birth place of various events which were milestones in India’s way of Independence. In 1885 it witnessed the formation of Indian National Congress, Gandhiji started the Quit India movement from Mumbai in 1942. On August 12, 1996 a resolution was passed by the Municipal Corporation Resolution No. 512, under Maharashtra Act XXV of 1996, according to which the name of Bombay was changed to Mumbai, named after the Goddess of fisherman community Mumba Devi.
Also known as Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika, the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai covers an area of 437.71 sq.kms. With the population of 1,19,14,378 persons according to census of 2001 the metropolitan city plays an important role in India’s International Trade and has developed as important hub for education, science and technological development.
The Corporation is headed by the Mayor who is also the first citizen of city, however the major responsibilities are vested in the hands of Municipal Commissioner.
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click here Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation: Another major local body in Mumbai is Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation also known as the City of 21st Century.
The geographical expansion of Mumbai was restricted due to constraints of coastal boundaries in south, east and west. As the result the city planners decided to make an appropriate use of the available resources. Renowned architects such as Charles Coria, Shirish Patel and Pravin Mehta suggested to develop the area of Navi Mumbai as an alternative city of Mumbai.
Navi Mumbai is designed as a planned city and is considered as one of the largest, well balanced, totally planned and modern city in the world. The initiative of planning the development and design of Navi Mumbai goes to City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) which is a public sector company registered under Companies Act in March 1970. With the geographical area of 343.70 sq.kms the company designed the developmental plans for 95 villages of Thane and Raigad. This was given approval by the government of Maharashtra in 1979.
The geographical area of Navi Mumbai is divided in 88 Municipal wards which is represented by the corporator or ward member from each ward. To maintain proper law and administration, the city is divided into eight nodes. Each of these nodes is divided into groups and these groups are later divided into blocks of one or more sector. Each group is then again divided into bits.
NMMC works on the same pattern on which the MCGM works, here also the corporation is headed by the Mayor but most of the responsibilities are vested in the hands of commissioner.
For more information about NMMC go to website of NMMC www.nmmconline.com
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