Page 190 - SST Class 06

Composition Public Hygiene

A Nagar Nigam is an elected body. The number of This is an important function which helps to
its members varies from 50 to 100 depending on the maintain cleanliness in the city. It includes
size of population of a city, with some exceptions, as collection and disposal of waste and garbage,
the New Delhi Municipal Corporation has 134 cleaning of drainage systems, spray of medicines
members while the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for prevention of diseases and epidemics etc.
has 121 members. The members of a Nagar Nigam
are called Councillors. The city is divided into as
many wards as members have to be elected. One
member is elected from each ward. All adults above
the age of 18 years, registered on electoral rolls, can
cast votes to elect councillors.
The members elect a chairperson called Mahapaur
or Mayor and a vice chairman called Up-
Mahapaur or Deputy Mayor . The Mahapaur
presides over the meetings of a Nagar Nigam. The
members also elect some experienced and A Nagar Nigam vehicle disposing waste
respectable people of the city, known as Public Health
aldermen . Some seats are reserved for the people
Dispensaries and hospitals are set up in different
of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
Other Backward Classes. One-third of the total parts of the city with qualified doctors and other
seats are reserved for women. subordinate staff. Provision is also made for
medicines and other medical care instruments.
The members of the state legislature (Vidhan Vaccinations and inoculations are given for
Sabha and Vidhan Parishad) and members of the prevention from diseases, such as the pulse polio
Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) are ex- programme. Action is also taken against food
officio members of the Nagar Nigam. Some seats adulteration.
may be filled by nominated persons having
special knowledge or experience in municipal
administration.
Municipal Commissioner
The decisions taken by the Nagar Nigam are
executed by an officer called Municipal
Commissioner or Nagar Ayukta . He is a state
government employee. He has a large number of
officers and other subordinate staff to assist him in
his functions, such as deputy municipal
commissioners, assistant municipal A government hospital
commissioners, medical officers, veterinary Water
officers, education officers, engineers, public A Nagar Nigam/Palika provides for water from
relation officers etc.
different sources, such as by digging wells, ponds
Functions and canals or constructing overhead tanks for
drawing underground water. It also keeps a watch
The functions of a Nagar Palika and a Nagar
Nigam are similar in nature, the only difference over water pollution and recycling of water. It lays
the network of water pipes for supply of water in
being that of extent. Their functions can be
divided under the following points : different parts of the city.
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