Telangana Assembly on Saturday adopted the amended Telangana Municipalities Bill, 2019 to replace the Telangana Municipalities Ordinance, 2019 (Telangana Ordinance No.6 of 2019).
A Bill passed by the State Legislature in the last session was referred to the Governor for his assent but he returned it with observations that it should ensure compliance with provisions of Article 243-K and 243-Z of the Constitution detailing the duties and responsibilities of the State Election Commission. Then, an Ordinance was brought in immediately as both the Houses were prorogued and it was promulgated by the Governor on July 21. The Bill passed by the Assembly today replaced that Ordinance.
Redundant sections
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K. T. Rama Rao who moved the Bill explained that the new Bill was brought to replace certain provisions under the existing Acts had become redundant and non-relevant due to the changed times.
The new Act was brought to make the administration in urban local bodies more transparent, time bound and accountable and citizen-centric and convenient to the citizens. The new Act would also encourage greenery in the municipal bodies and formation of budgets in a scientific manner and would repeal the earlier Acts names the Telangana Municipalities Act, 1965 and the Telangana Municipal Corporations Act, 1994.
Mr. Rama Rao said the new Act would decrease human interface and ensure that the services were extended by the urban local bodies to the citizens within the stipulated time lines. The Act would pave way for participatory democracy, self-certification system and bring in penalty for violation of norms and incentives for compliance.
Earlier the Assembly passed the Telangana Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2019 moved by Law Minister A.Indrakaran Reddy.
