Setu Commission for Empowerment of Urban Local Bodies in Uttarakhand Submits Report to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday submitted a report based on in-depth analysis towards empowerment of Municipal Bodies in the Secretariat. Vice Chairman of the Bridge Commission Raj Shekhar Joshi while submitting the report said that suggestions have been made in the direction of making the municipal corporations and bodies self-reliant and empowered, urban development of the state and improving the problems of the cities.
The key points of the report are enhancement of financial autonomy and revenue mobilisation capacity of the bodies to make them self-reliant and transfer of 18 functions (such as water supply, public health, urban planning) included in the 12th Schedule of the Indian Constitution to the bodies. The report seeks to promote smart governance, GIS mapping and data-driven decision-making for technological innovation. It has been suggested to conduct training programmes for employees and elected representatives of the bodies. The report also elaborates on the reforms undertaken in this direction in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa etc.
Suggestions have also been made 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 general public in disaster prevention planning, landslide management planning. Among others present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Chief Secretary Mr. Anand Bardhan, CEO of Bridge Commission Mr. Shatrughan Singh, Secretary Urban Development Mr. Nitesh Jha, Smt. Radhika Jha, Mr. Chandresh Yadav, Dr. Bhavna Shinde, Dr. Priya Bhardwaj, Mr. Ankit Kumar and Shahzad Ahmed Malik from Bridge Commission. Department of Information and Public Relations