Municipal Corporation and Municipality

A Municipal government is in charge of the municipal area and it enjoys fiscal, political and administrative independence within the boundaries provided by the Constitution. They are self-governing bodies, directly elected by the people with an idea to improve the development of their area. They have the power to assign their own projects. They have several functions and responsibilities to fulfil which includes providing services for basic needs which are unmet like for education, cleanliness, health, supply of water, etc., planning for the development of the environmental, social and economic issues in the area and providing various facilities for progress and many more.

Every country has set some boundaries on the municipal body except a few domains where they can take independent decisions like in the political, administrative and financial areas.

What is a Municipal Corporation?

A municipal corporation is a type of local body that controls and supervises urban areas. Due to the development of urban cities, there was a need for a local body that can provide services in housing, education, healthcare and many other areas. These local bodies divide their functions into particular organised departments like Housing Board, Electricity department, Education department, etc and are managed by qualified persons.

Municipal corporations are called by various names in various states like Nagar Nigam in the states Uttrakhand, Delhi, Jharkhand etc., Mahanagar Palika in the states of Maharashtra and Goa, Poura Nigam in Assam, Nagara Sabha in Kerala, Nagara Palaka Samstha in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and many more as per the different states.

The municipal area is a particular area that is supervised by the municipal corporation and each area is further divided into small units known as wards. A municipal corporation constitutes a ward committee and this committee has one seat allotted for every ward. Members of this committee are elected for a term of five years and are called corporators or councillors. The population of the city determines the number of wards required in a particular municipal area and a few seats are reserved for the SC/ST, OBC and women.

The head of the municipal corporation is a mayor but in most of the states of India, the powers are handled by the Municipal Commissioner. The function of the mayor is to manage the meetings and ceremonies of the corporation. The mayor appoints the Deputy Mayor and both have a tenure of five years. Mayor is elected by the people. The executive officer implements the development and planning of the municipal corporation with the advice of councillors and mayors.

The functions of the corporation are town and urban planning, public health, fire services, improvement of the slum areas, maintenance and repair of street lights, social development, etc.

What is a Municipality?

A municipality is a self-governing local body that supervises the town, village or city that is governed by a council.

There are three types of municipalities (1) metropolitan municipalities which govern the largest metropolitan areas (2) district municipalities which govern the various local municipalities and (3) local municipalities which manage the rural areas and towns.

The municipalities might have the power to tax various corporations and individuals with income tax, property tax, etc.

Difference between Municipal Corporation and Municipality

The municipal corporation is made for the administration of big cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore, etc. whereas the municipality is made for the administration of small cities and towns.

Both the body’s municipal corporation and municipalities are established in the union territories by the act of Parliament and in the states by the acts of state legislatures.

The municipal corporation has more resources and power and works directly with the state government whereas the municipality has fewer resources and power and deals with the district administration.

Both bodies are in charge of areas like health, education, finance, taxation, etc. and make decisions regarding these fields.The municipal corporation consists of three authorities: the council, the standing committees and the municipal commissioner whereas the municipality comprises: the council, the standing committees and the chief executive officer.

The head of the municipal corporation is the mayor and is assisted by a deputy mayor whereas the head of the municipality is a chairman or a president and is assisted by a vice-chairman or vice-president.

The Mayor is responsible for presiding over the council meetings whereas the Chairman or President is responsible for executive powers and presiding over the council meetings.

The municipal commissioner implements the decisions made by the standing committees and councils whereas the chief executive officer takes care of the day-to-day activities.

The municipal commissioner is a member of the IAS and is appointed by the state government and the chief executive officer is also appointed by the state government.

Conclusion 

Municipal corporations and municipalities are both statutory bodies, leading their work for the better governance and look after to fulfil the basic necessities of a person and the requirements of a city, be it urban or rural area.