PANAJI
19 years after the formation of CCP Act 2002, the Corporation has finally started the process to constitute the seven Ward Committees which are mandated in the CCP Act as they will be responsible for proper participative planning of the city.
The CCP Ward committees were not constituted since the enactment of the Act in 2002. As per Section 41 of the CCP Act it is mandatory to have ward committees.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues played a crucial role for the formation of ward committees. First, the legal battle was fought to frame the necessary rules for the formation of ward committees. Then for actual formation of the committee and then finally again for choosing proper persons in the committee.
The CCP will have seven ward committees. As per notified rules, each ward committee consists of three members of non-government organizations who are working in the state, and voters of the municipality is qualified for nomination. Committee would also have onboard the Corporators representing the wards within the territorial limit of that Ward committee along with an official of the CCP.
As CCP rules persons like architects, engineers, town planners or persons working in the fields of environment protection, conservation and maintenance of heritage, urban development, and other specified fields are qualified to be in the committee.
The last date for submitting applications is 16 April by eligible citizens seeking nomination on these Ward committees.
It may be recalled that Adv Aires Rodrigues had last year moved the High Court seeking directions that these committees as mandated by the CCP Act be constituted.
Adv Rodrigues in his petition had pointed out that the Ward Committees will rightly influence the city’s much-needed planning in a manner that best addresses its needs while participating in determining core CCP processes such as Integrated Development Planning, CCP budgeting, and its performance management besides making sure funds are used for the purposes they are intended for while ensuring that the people of Panaji get the best services on all fronts.
After assuring the High Court, the CCP by an order dated 19th June last year constituted the seven ward committees but contrary to law with relatives and friends of the Corporators as members including then-Mayor Uday Madkaikar’s brother and one more corporator relative also finding a place in the committees.
As these Ward committees were not set up in accordance with law, Adv Rodrigues moved the High Court again after which the CCP by an order on 28 August cancelled those illegal appointments.
The High Court by an order on 31 August directed the CCP to constitute the Ward Committees strictly in accordance with law. Accordingly, the CCP Ward Committee Rules were framed and notified on 27 November last year.
