History
and Introduction
The Department of Municipal Administration(Now Department
of Urban Affairs) was formed in 1962 bifurcating the erstwhile
Department of Local Bodies in to Department of Municipalities
and Department of Panchayats. This Department is under the
control of the Local Administration Department of the Government
of Kerala.
This
Department is concerned with the administration of Municipalities
and Corporations in Kerala. There were 58 Urban Local Bodies
including 5 Municipal Corporations. The details regarding
the names, grade, area, population etc. of the urban local
bodies in the State are furnished in Annexure.I. The Kerala
Municipality Act 1994, a unified Act for the Municipalities
and Corporations in the State was enacted giving effect
to the 74th Constitution Amendment Act. As a result a Municipal
Corporations also come under the Administrative control
of the Department. Before the commencement of the Kerala
Municipality Act, 1994 the Department was only the inspecting
authority and the coordinating agency in respect of the
three Municipal Corporations in the State since 1977.
The Director of Urban affairs is the controlling and supervising
Officer of the Municipal/Corporation Councils by virtue
of the powers delegated to him by Government.
The
Department of Urban Affairs with the Director as the head
functions as the controlling authority of the entire urban
local bodies in their working. The Director exercises the
powers delegated to him by the Government. The Department
is supervising the entire work in the urban local bodies.
The Department is the coordinating agency as regards the
implementation of schemes under Five Year Plan, Payment
of grant-in-aid and execution of Developmental schemes etc.
He is also the inspecting authority in respect of all Municipal
bodies. The Director is the appointing and disciplinary
authority of all staff in the Kerala Municipal Common Service,
except a few categories such as Health Officers, Municipal
and Corporation Engineers. The Department exercises statutory
authority over the Corporations with regard to the administration
of to enactments viz. Kerala Cattle Trespass Act 1961 and
Kerala Hackney Carriage Act 1963.
The
53 Municipalities and five Corporations in the State levy
and collect taxes and fees under the authority of various
Acts. The role of urban local bodies is *****.
STATUTORY
FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT UNDER VARIOUS ENACTMENTS.
The
Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 does not confer to the department
any statutory authority but provides for delegations. The
functions and authorities delegated by the Government were
properly exercised by the department. This delegation is
based on the Kerala Municipality Act, 1961. As per 1994
Act fresh delegation is not ordered. Various powers conferred
upon the Director as per the provision in the Local Authorities
Loans Act 1963 and Cattle Trespass Act 1961.
OTHER
FUNCTIONS
The
urban local bodies are the real sense a Miniature form of
Government undertaking the various services and functions
for the welfare of the people.
The
Department exercises supervision and control of the entire
urban local bodies in the State. The activities, functions
exercised by the local bodies are closely watched by the
department. The works in the local bodies are monitored
by the department. With a view to improve the administration
in the local bodies a series of circulars covering various
subject were issued. Detailed instruction as to the implementation
of the new Act were issued from time to time.
Activities
under the prevention of Food Adulteration Act and Rules
made thereunder were reviewed every month. The Department
continued the administration of the Municipal Common Service-Municipal
Employees Central Pension Scheme and Central Provident Fund
Scheme.
As
provided for the section 30(3) of Kerala Municipality Act
1994, the Government have transferred the institutions schemes
and functions whichever hither ***.
1. Agricultural Department
- ***
2. Animal Husbandry Department - Veterinary Poly Clinic, Sub Centre, Dispensary.
3. Fisheries - One post of Fisheries
Sub Inspector.
4. Industries - Industries Extension
Officer
5. Social Welfare
- Day Care Centres, Anganavadies etc.
6. Health Govt.Hospital, -
Community Health Centre-
Taluk Hospital
7. Ayurveda - Taluk Hospitals
8. Homoeopathy
- Taluk Hospitals
9. Education - Govt. Primary Schools
and High Schools.
10.
Co-operation - Senior Co-operative
Inspector.
Though
the staff attached to these institutions are transferred
to the urban local bodies they continued to draw their salary
from the Department which they belongs.
The
fund provided for in the State Budget under Plan and Non
Plan for the programmes that are to be implemented through
these institutions were also transferred to the urban local
bodies to be initially credited to their general P.D. Account. Being at the initial state of transfer of powers
the urban local bodies have reported problems in the running
of these institutions both administrative and functional. In the years to come the problems in the infancy stage will gradually
be reduced and these urban local bodies will be better placed
to function as real institution of self Government.
