GUWAHATI, Aug 7 - The next election to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) will be held only after the next session of Assam Legislative Assembly, as the GMC Act could go through some amendments in the forthcoming session.
This was stated by Guwahati Development Department Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, while talking to this correspondent.
The tenure of the last Mayor-in-Council of the GMC had ended on July 31 and all its work are being done under the direct supervision of its Commissioner Monalisa Goswami.
As per rule, the State government has to appoint one administrator in absence of the elected body.
�The GMC Act is in need of amendment. In the present Act, there are some loopholes, basically over the work distribution between area sabha members and councillors. Further, we are also planning to include some areas on the outskirts of the city under the GMC jurisdiction. All these will be done before formation of a new elected body,� Bhattacharya said.
GMC Commissioner Monalisa Goswami, when contacted, said, �In the absence of an elected body, we are supervising the works undertaken. The Principal Secretary concerned and the Guwahati Development Minister are continuously monitoring the development.�
Goswami further said, �The State government may appoint an administrator soon. But now no work is disrupted due to lack of the elected machinery. Mainly we are now concentrating on de-siltation of the drainage system of the city and all payment for this work will also be done in time.�
Outgoing Mayor Mrigen Sarania had recently stressed amending the GMC Act during an interaction with the media.
�There should be proper division of power among various stakeholders of GMC. Again, there is also a need to entrust the collector with magistrate-level powers for smooth functioning,� Sarania had said.
