Hyderabad: The Municipal Act gives a major role for civil society through ward committees in the 128 urban local bodies. Each ward will have four 15-member committees comprising a cross-section of people from the area to advise corporators. These ward committees meet will every three months, and the issues they raise will be placed before the council meeting.
The committees will discuss the upkeep and maintenance of sanitation and solid waste management, tree plantation, Haritha Haaram, survival of at least 85 per cent plants, maintenance of water supply, parks, playgrounds, public toilets, market places, facilitate collection of taxes, fees and other dues to the municipality. The members will be rotated annually.
The ward committees are expected to help the authorities identify encroachments, unauthorised constructions and ensure their demolition. Other responsibilities include discouraging the use of plastic and encouraging art and cultural activities, sports and games.
This apart, a district level committee headed by the collector and consisting of the forest officer (social forestry) or equivalent officer in charge of Haritha Haaram and commissioners will draw up a “green action plan” every year, ward-wise and municipality-wise, which will specify the number of plants to be planted, keeping in mind the area, topography and availability of space. The district committee will decide the local species of plants to be planted to ensure maximum survival and growth. A campaign to propagate plantation will be taken up. The cost of maintaining the nursery and plantations shall be met from the “Green Budget” earmarked in the municipality budget.
The new Municipal Act gives importance to control stray animals in every municipality. It says that the municipality has to take measures to reduce stray animal population. It should ensure that un-licensed pigs, dogs or any other domestic animal are not left unattended. If they are found straying, they are to be handed over to the Animal Protection Committee or a similar agency.
The legislation says that whoever keeps pigs, dogs or any domestic animals within the municipal limits without permission will be punished with a penal amount. If there is a situation which leads to endangering of human life or outbreak of epidemic diseases due to the proliferation of stray animals, the commissioner will take suitable action to restrain such animals.
