News: Haryana Cabinet Nod for Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority-19.04.2017

Haryana cabinet nod for Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority

Rashpal Singh 
Hindustan Times

Haryana cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill paving the way for the formation of the much-awaited Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). The bill will be tabled in an upcoming special session of state Assembly on May 4 so that it can be passed as an Act.

The GMDA bill, 2017 was discussed in the cabinet meet chaired by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and approved, said an official spokesperson. The GMDA is proposed as an integrated authority aimed at overall development of the city.

Once the bill is passed in the Assembly, the state government will notify areas in Gurgaon district to be covered under the new authority.

“The authority seeks to answer the growing needs of the rapidly expanding urban agglomeration Gurugram has come to be known. It aims to develop a vision for the continued, sustained and balanced growth of Gurugram metropolitan area,” said the spokesperson.

The bill was expected to be tabled in the Assembly on March 9, but was delayed, said a senior official privy to the developments. The government, later, also considered forming the authority through an Ordinance and making it functional by early April but the idea was dropped.

“After discussions, it emerged that the authority needed to be a body with strong constitutional backing. A special session of the Assembly will be convened in May and the bill will be tabled,” said Rao Narbir Singh, cabinet minister and Gurgaon MLA.

A residents’ advisory council will be one of the salient features of the authority. The council will advise the authority and provide guidance powers and performance of its functions. It will have a minimum of 10 and a maximum 15 members, who will be residents of notified area.

Structure

A senior IAS officer will head GMDA as its CEO, with the chief minister being its Chairperson. Ex-officio members would include Haryana minister town and country planning, minister of urban local bodies, members of Parliament of constituencies falling within notified area, MLAs representing assembly constituencies falling within notified area, mayor and deputy mayor of MCG, zila parishad chairman, senior officials of TCP and ULB departments. Among local officials, divisional commissioner, MCG commissioner , deputy commissioner, and commissioner of police will be part of the authority.

Timeline

•April 10, 2016: CM ML Khattar announced at a public rally in Badshahpur to make efforts for formation of Gurugram Development Authority (GDA)

•September 5, 2016: CM officially announced formation of Gurugram development authority (GDA)

•October 31: Senior IAS officer V Umashankar resumed charge as Officer-on-Special-Duty of the authority. He is tasked with preparing draft etc. for formation of the authority

•November 2: GMDA draft put online for public feedback

•December 8: The bill was submitted to the government

•December 21: Government renamed the body from GDA to Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA)