Local Governance in Delhi | Local Bodies in Delhi

Local Bodies in Delhi

The Indian administration system is a three-tier system where the control flows from upward to downward. From Central government to state government, from state government to local government. The central government is the supreme deity which enjoys the main power, the laws and rules passed by center are implemented by the state and state is accountable to implement these rules with the help of local governance.

The local governance perform at two levels at city level and rural level. At city level we have Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council depending upon the regional population and at village level Panchayati Raj government institutions.

The main responsibility of all these government institutions is to provide better public amenities to its citizen and to maintain law and order in the state. The vast geographical area requires more attention by the local governance for delivering better amenities to its citizens in Delhi.

Delhi the capital of India with an area of Area 1397.3 km2 (540 sq mi) and with the huge population of almost 13.78 lakh is divided into the three major local bodies catering the civic needs of the Delhi residents.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Since its set up on April 7, 1958 by the Act of Parliament, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi holds the pride of recognizing itself as one of the largest municipal bodies of world catering the necessary needs of almost 13.78 lakh population.

It is ranked second only after the Tokyo in the terms of area where it operates its control. The Municipal Corporation Act was amended in 1993, thus bringing changes in composition, functions, governance and administration of the Corporation.

The core functions of the Corporation is providing essential public services to the urban and rural populations, resettlement of colonies, authorizing of unauthorized colonies, settlement of JJ squatter, which generally came into existence once the migrants from other cities comes to Delhi and start establishing their own unauthorized colonies on government land, slum areas commonly known as ‘basties’ and private 'katras' etc.

The municipal area is divided in 12 zones.

At present Mr. P. R. Sawhney is acting as the Mayor in the Board. Mr. K.S. Mehra is the Commissioner.

For further information about zones/wards/colonies/CSBs and other department operating under Municipal Corporation of Delhi click here.

Delhi Cantonment Board
Delhi Cantonment Board came into existence in the year 1914 under the Ministry of Defense as a local body. The body is controlled by Cantonments Act of 1924. The head office of the board is located in the Sadar Bazaar area within the geographical area around 10, 500 acres.

The board is governed by a seven member committee including three members from military. Among the other four members one member represents the district magistrate where as other three three are ex- officio members namely garrison engineer, senior executive medical officer and the station commander.

The Chief Executive Officer of the board is the member of Indian Defense Estates Service. The meetings of the board are presided by the President of the board. The Delhi Cantonment Board holds it control over seven wards.

The main function of the DCB is to look after proper delivery of civic services to the public. These services include water supply, education, roads, birth as well as death registrations, public health, street lightning, fire fighting etc. The DCB is continuously engaged in improving the quality of its services to the citizens.

New Delhi Municipal Council:

With an objective of “A Model Well-Planned Metropolitan City". NDMC is constantly involved in providing better civic services to its citizens and also the masses from nation and abroad so that before they leave city with a smile on their face. The continuous efforts are made by NDMC with the public private participation model (PPP) to ensure better quality of social and communal welfare facilities. More emphasis is laid on promotion of art & culture, environmental improvement, cleaning & greening campaigns. At present Mr. Parimal Rai is the Chairperson in the Council.

Before attaining the present structure the Council had undergone various changes in its structure from time to time. The history of its establishment goes back to 1911, when the then Imperial government decided to shift capital of India from the then Culcutta (now called as Kolkatta) to Delhi.

Earlier it was called as Raisina Municipal Committee, later in 1932 it was changed into New Delhi Muncipal Committee. The major initiative of this committee has been making Delhi free from Nallas by introducing underground sewer system in whole of its area.

There were number of open Nallas which were regarded as the main source of generating malaria. All such Nallas have been covered and public utility services have been constructed on them.

The NDMC was under the control of an administrator till an Act was passed in May 1994, after it was superseded in February 1980.

On May 1994 the Punjab Municipal Act 1911 was replaced and the committee was named as New Delhi Municipal Council. The act was endorsed by the Parliament and a Special Officer was appointed by the Central government under section 418 of NDMC Act 1994.

At present the council of eleven members works under the control of Chairperson, in accordance to NDMC Act 1994.

For further information about functioning of NDMC please explore here.