Mysuru:  Ever since the adaption of 74th amendment to the Constitution in 1992, otherwise known as ‘Nagarapalika Act,’ the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has been urging from time to time every new Commissioner of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to implement the Constitutional requirement of forming Ward Committees.

It was during the time of P. Manivannan as the MCC Commissioner that finally some serious efforts were made to form Ward Committees. However, because of lack of interest on the part of Mysureans it was not a successful attempt. Later, none of the Commissioners nor any Corporators or other elected representatives have made effort to form Ward Committees.

In a letter to the MCC Commissioner, the MGP has demanded the constitution of Ward Committees, Area Sabhas and conduct of monthly Ward Committee meetings in the city.

“It is regrettable that even 25 years after the passage of the Nagarapalika Act, Ward Committees have not been constituted in the City of Mysuru which has 65 Wards, and Area Sabhas have not been notified as per KMC (Amendment) Act of 2011, and Area Sabha Representatives have not been nominated. These gross acts of omission and negligence are violations of the Nagarapalika Act and the KMC (Amendment) Act of 2011,” it has stated.

“Like Gram Sabhas in rural areas, Ward Committees are an attempt on the part of India’s Parliament to promote involvement of people in self-government in urban areas.  Ward Committees will be able to plan, monitor and audit all work in the Ward. Such active involvement can reduce or completely eliminate corruption which is rampant today. No work by any contractor is done today without paying customary ‘commission’. This inconvenient truth is known to everyone. But no one has any interest to challenge this,” said Bhamy V. Shenoy, one of the members of MGP.

If Mysureans in large numbers show interest then this can become a reality. Ward Committees can work to solve local water problems, keep the neighbourhood clean, green the areas by promoting planting of  tree saplings, maintain the roads by filling potholes, etc. They can also improve tax collection in the MCC Wards.

In short, Ward Committees can contribute to the upkeep of their respective Wards and through that make Mysuru an attractive city and prevent it from going the way of Bengaluru, said MGP Working President S. Sobana.