CM bats for financial independence of civic bodies at MP chapter meet of All India Council of Mayors

Indore: The maiden meeting of Madhya Pradesh chapter of All India Council of Mayors (AICM) on Monday saw approval of some proposals to increase financial and administrative powers of civic bodies. CM Mohan Yadav, who virtually joined the meeting along with Khajuraho MP VD Sharma and MP Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, stressed the need for urban bodies to reach out to every household and promote the govt's work. He praised Indore's initiative of using solar energy for water supply and encouraged other municipal corporations to follow suit. Yadav echoed the call for financial independence, urging municipal bodies to increase their income through various means, including their own complexes and colonies.The urban administration minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, while addressing the mayors, emphasised the importance of transparency in their work. He urged them to increase revenue streams while plugging any financial leaks. He cautioned that any investigations could put the municipal corporations in a difficult position.In response, mayors from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, including Rewa mayor Ajay Mishra and Singrauli mayor Rani Agrawal, questioned why investigations were being hindered, given that both the state and national govts are led by the BJP. Vijayvargiya stressed the need for city governments to become financially independent. He encouraged mayors to explore new revenue sources and to not shy away from levying taxes, stating, "Take some courage, impose taxes." He reminded mayors that good work would be remembered for decades, comparing a mayor to the ‘father of the city' with the opportunity to serve their constituents.He shared his own experience of increasing taxes during his tenure, which he said led to Indore having the highest budget among cities in the state. The minister expressed his support for the formation of "city governments" and offered to help get such a proposal approved by the chief minister.Indore mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, who was also appointed President of the newly formed wing of AICM, said that the meeting was attended by 13 out of a total of 16 mayors of the state, where some important agendas were proposed, including sending a proposal to AICM to send mayors to urban bodies excelling in their work. "Prior to this, the state unit should gather information about outstanding urban bodies in India and abroad and prepare a proposed tour program for consideration," the proposal reads.The meeting also saw the body demanding the state govt provide security guards to the mayors, along with revising the amount of octroi compensation grant provided to urban bodies by the govt. The state wing also demanded that urban bodies should be granted the freedom to adjust the rates of property tax valuation under the Property Tax Valuation Rules-2020 and the Consumer Charges Rules-2021 for solid waste management, water supply, and sewage services according to the actual cost of operation and maintenance. "This involves amending the rules that currently limit the maximum increase to 10% and 15%, respectively," Bhargava said, adding that the state govt has also been urged not to undertake any work through MPUDC, at least at the municipal corporation level.The meeting also saw proposals to obtain maximum grant assistance and approval from the Government of India's Tourism and Culture Department for tourism development at the local level, immediate appointment of technical staff at the vacant positions, and exploring solar energy or other cost-effective options to reduce electricity expenses for water supply, lighting, etc., on the municipal corporation. "The state wing has approved all the proposals to send to the state govt for its approval," Bhargava said.