Give mayors real powers, ensure timely civic audits, urban body heads tell Centre
Municipal leaders in India are urging the central government to grant mayors more executive power and implement timely financial audits. They argue that direct elections for mayors are ineffective without a mayor-in-council system and better financial oversight.
Why it matters
Addresses critical governance and administrative reform issues in Indian urban local bodies, which impact city infrastructure and financial transparency.
NEW DELHI: Even as the Centre moots directly elected mayors with a fixed five-year tenure and a mayor-in-council system, municipal heads from different cities at National Urban Conclave flagged that the move would serve little purpose without giving mayors adequate powers. Rajkot mayor Nehal Shukla also called for time-bound financial audits of civic bodies, saying that “no municipal body can function without financial irregularities”.Participating in a discussion on proposed changes to the Model Municipal Law, Shukla said mayors in municipal governance were like governors, while standing committees wielded financial powers and executive officials remained under the control of state govts.“Wherever we have directly elected mayors, we must have a mayor-in-council.
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