A national conference of Mayors began here today with a Madhya Pradesh Minister suggesting for a separate all-India cadre for municipal services.
Just like IAS, IFS and other civil services, an Indian Municipal Services cadre should be created in the country, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Umashankar Gupta said.
Maharashtra Excise Minister Ganesh Naik earlier inaugurated the 44th All India Mayors' Conference. Naik, who is also Thane Guardian Minister, said Mayors should fight to get their legitimate rights.
The two-day meet, being attended by Mayors from all over the country, is deliberating on various issues concerning civic corporations. Indore Mayor Krishna Murari Moghe presided over the inaugural function.
The conference should not confine itself to discussing more powers for the Mayors. It should also discuss issues like planned development of cities and providing basic civic amenities to the citizens, Gupta said.
Maintaining that Mayors should have a tenure of five years, the MP Minister said they must come together to fight for their demands with the State and Central Governments.
Naik said such conferences help in exchanging ideas and development work models in important urban centres.
A development plan costing Rs 12,500 crore was being prepared for Navi Mumbai and this would help other cities while preparing their plans, Naik said.
In his presidential speech, Moghe said the State Governments should give more funds to the corporations so that they are able to provide quick and good quality civic amenities to the citizens.
