Planning Department

 

            The Economic and Statistical Organisation of the Planning Department, Punjab, is represented in the district by the District Statistical Officer, Ludhiana, who is assisted by one Technical Assistant, besides other ministerial and class IV staff.  This office was established in the beginning of March, 1960.

 

            Its main functions are to co-ordinate the statistical activities of the different departments at the district level, ensure that the data collected by the different district agencies are furnished in time and conform to certain minimum standards, undertaken on the spot investigations on the collection of the data, collect such economic and statistical data as are either not available at present or are extremely meager, inadequate or not reliable for which there is no suitable agency, meet such other demand for statistics as many arise from time to time fro administrative and policy needs, render technical guidance to the district agencies in collection and  processing of data and maintain liaison with other statistical agencies which operate at the district level.

 

National Savings Organisation

 

            The National Savings Scheme was introduced during the World War II when it was known as the National Savings Central Bureau.  It was re-organised in 1948 when a Director was appointed in each State, assisted by an Assistant Regional Director, and one or two District Organisers, National Savings, in each district.

 

            The Ludhiana Branch of the National Savings Organisation was established in 1948.  There are three District Organisers, National Savings, one each at the headquarters of the three sub-divisions in the district i.e., Ludhiana, Jagraon and Samrala.  Their main functions are to promote the habit of thrift among the public to persuade the public to invest their savings with Government in one of the Small Savings Securities ; to appoint, guide, train and motivate the agents ; to form savings groups and watch their efficient functioning ; and to work for the promotion of the savings movement in close collaboration with other Government Organisations like the post offices, community projects, co-operatives, schools and college, municipalities and State Government, and to utilize the good offices of non-official organisation for the purpose.

 

            The annual target of collections is fixed by a committee known as the State Advisory Board for Small Savings, Punjab.  The target, fixed by the committee, is distributed among the Commissioners of the respective Divisions, leaving it to them to sub-divide their divisional targets among their respective districts.  Each district has a Savings Committee which reviews the progress of the Small Savings Scheme every month and devises ways and means for its intensification.  The district targets are sub-divided among various trades and professions, educational institutions, industries, bazaars, mandies, offices, etc., and the implementation of these is entrusted to the members of the Savings Committee.

 

            Publicity is carried on by means of cinema slides, films, folders, posters, exhibitions, public meetings, door-to-door and shop-to-shop canvassing, etc., in order to educate the people regarding the advantage of the scheme to them and to the nation.

 

            The gross and net collections for the year 1961-62 to 1965-66 in Ludhiana district are given in chapter ‘Banking, Trade and commerce’ on page 311.

 

Language Department

 

            The Department is represented at the district level by the District Language Officer, Ludhiana, who is assisted by one Inspector, besides ministerial and class IV staff.

 

            Before the introduction of the regional language (Punjabi in Punjab region and Hindi in Hindi Region) on October 2, 1962, at and below the district level, for official use in the them Punjab State, Language teachers were appointed to teach Punjabi/Hindi to the employees of the State Government.  In order to ensure easy and smooth switch-over to  the Punjabi in Ludhiana District by the said date, an Introduction Cell was created at the district headquarters in September, 1962.  To start with the staff consisted of an Incharge District Language Introduction and an Inspector for Punjabi Type and Stenography.  The District Language Officer was provided in 1963 to supervise the work of introduction of the regional language in the district administration.  He is expected to visit the different State Government offices located in the district and assist in the introduction of Punjabi.  Typewriting and Shorthand classes are held free of charge for the benefit of the Government employees.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIV

LOCAL SELF- GOVERNMENT

 

v     History of local Self- Government in the District

v     Organization and Structure Function and Duties of Municipal Committees

v     Town and Country Planning and Housing

 

 

            (a)   History of Local Self- Government in the District. – Local Self-Government in the Punjab, as elsewhere in India, is of two kinds ; the Local government of the villages and that of the towns.  The former is an old indigenous institutions dating from the remotest antiquity while the latter is an exotic growth of western importation.  The development of local government in large towns is described here while rural local government falls under the head Panchayati Raj.

 

            Municipal Government in India has its roots in pre-historic times. Some form of municipal authority appears to have been well-established even during the period of the Harappan civilization. Positive evidence of a highly development urban civilization is provided by the archaeological excavations at Harapan (Montgorery District) and Mohenjodaro (Larkana, Sind) in West Pakistan. The streets were well planned with obvious town-planning restrictions on sporadic buildings. Most impressive are the systems of drains. They testify to the vigilance of some regular and effective municipal Government.

 

            The village was the unit of State in ancient India. There was, however, no clear dividing line between a village (grama) and a town (nagara). Gramani was the head of the village as well as of the tow. Gradually village developed into large towns and a city culture was evolved and reached its high water mark during the Mauryan and Gupta period f India History. Cities had their councils and also most probably had municipal administrations on the pattern of the metropolitan city of Pataliputra as described by Megasthenses, the Greek ambassador at the court of the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta.

 

            The Sultanate of Delhi and the Mughal rule were an undiluted despotism, with a highly centralized bureaucracy, and an urban culture. The cities were the foci of Political power. Their civil administration was vested in the Kotwal, whose multifarious functions, as described by Abul Fazl in the Ain-I-Akbari,1 included a number of such duties as in modern times are regarded as municipal functions. The office of the kotwal was developed as the key stone of municipal organisation. Appointed under the sanad of the Emperor, the kotwal was a person of high status. Law and order was his first responsibility and he maintained a body of horse, city guards and an army of spies. Almost every aspect of city life came under his college; he appointed a headman or ‘Mir muhalla’ for every ward, he kept ward, he kept a register of houses and roads and directed the location of cemeteries slaughter-houses, and sweeper colonies. He controlled the markets, checked weights and measures, supervised local prices. He levied the local taxes, market dues, tolls and transit duties2.

           

1. Abul Fazil, Ani-I-Akbari, translated by Col. H.S. Jarrett, Vol. II, pp. 41-43, (Calcutta, 1891)

            2. P. Saran, The Provincial Government of the Mughuls, pp. 231-35. (Allahabad, 1941)

 

            During the medieval and Mughal periods, there were no regular municipal institutions enjoying powers of self-government.  Municipal self-Government traditions of ancient India simply withered away under the military, despotism of the Sultanate of Delhi and the Mughal Empire.

 

            Local Self-Government as a representative Organisation responsible to a body of electors with necessary powers of administration and taxation and functioning as a school for training in responsibility is a British legacy in India.  While the existence of elective organisations in ancient India or the formation of panchayats in the villages in the form of Local Self-Government since very early times cannot be denied, it is indisputable that the foundation of modern system of Municipal Government were laid during the period of British rule in the country.  Local Self-Government in the sense it is understood today was thus gradually evolved as a result of a series of legislative enactments passed from time to time under the British regime.

 

            The Government of India Act XXXVI of 1850 permitted the formation of local committees to make better provisions for Public Health and Sanitation and to raise taxes for the said purpose.  The legislative provision, however, was conditioned by the fact that the action should be taken on the application of the inhabitants.  The Royal Army Sanitary Commission invited pointed attention to the unhealthy conditions of the towns in its report in 1863.  Prompt action was taken by the Punjab Government in pursuance of the recommendations and under the Punjab Act XV of 1867, the voluntary provision for the constitution of Municipaities was  dropped and the provincial Government assumed necessary powers to set up Committees to look after water-supply, lighting and sanitation of towns.  The said Act permitted the election of a number of members of Municipaln Committees with the permission of the Provincial Government.  The measures proved useful in improving the sanitary conditions in the towns.  The Ludhiana Municipality was formed in 1867 under the said Act and action in this regard was taken at the instance of the military authorities to meet the long felt need.

 

            Lord Mayo’s resolution on provincial finances, which encouraged the general application of the principle of election to the local bodies, was another step in the development of Local Self-Government in India.  A Punjab Act of 1873 passed in pursuance of the above resolution made membership of Municipal bodies permissive by elections.

 

            During the initial stage the system of Local Self-Government could by no means be said to be fully democratic.  The predominance of the official control gave little chance for local inititative.  In fact during this phase the accent was more on the “local” rather than the “Self Government” aspect of Municipal administration.

 

            The review of the Local Government done by the Royal Commission of decentralisation in 1907-1909 did not embody any progressive Municipal policy.  The introduction of communal electorates under the Government of India Act 1909 proved to be a great impediment to the healthy development of Municipal Government in the Punjab.  The Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, did not introduce any substantial changes in the Municipal administration.  Officer was made compulsory in large towns.  During the period 1909-1919 there was no significant change in the Municipal administration.  The deputy Commissioner continued to the be the king pin.  The Municipal Committees continued to suffer from chronic financial stringency, rigid central control and mal-administration.  The outbreak of World War I (1919-18) had adverse effect on the working of the Municipal bodies.  The goal of “political and popular education” remined as elusive as ever.  By and large Local Self-Government in the district continued to be one of the functions of the district officer.

 

            Under the system of dyarchy, 1919- 1937, official control was gradually relaxed and local bodies were made completely elective.  It was desired to establish Local Self-Government, whereby the people would be free to manage their own affairs.  The new policy accepted the principle that political education of the public must take precedence over departmental efficiency.  The Government of India Act, 1919, prescribed a new schedule of taxes, which could be levied by or for the local bodies.  This measure not only enlarged the sphere of taxation but also enabled the local bodies to feel relatively independent.

 

            The Punjab Small Towns Act, 1922, simplified the machinery for Municipal administration of Small Towns with population of less than 10,000.  Under the new scheme the Town Committees consisting of not less than 5 member ¾ of whom were to be elected, were proposed for all such towns.  The Punjab Municipal (Executive Officer) Act, 1913, invested the Provincial Government with powers to appoint Executive Officer in the Municipalities.

 

            With a dawn of independence in 1947 a new vista had been opened in the growth of Municipal Government. Local Self-Government has assumed new significance, a new status and has a new role to play as the base of democratic set-up in the country.   It is, however, to be regretted that the urban local bodies have so far failed to meet the aspirations of the people.  The new national set up[ in the country has not brought about any great improvement in the field of Local Self-Government.  The cursory comparison of Municipal administration in the pre and post-independence periods leads to the unfortunate conclusion that a dynamic system of Municipal administration has yet to be evolved.  The existing Municipalities at Ludhiana, Jagaron, Khanna, Raikot and Machhiwara were raised to Class II3 standard in 1886 in accordance with the Punjab Government notification No. 687, dated 28th September 1886.  Their boundaries were defined in 1886 and building bye-laws were sanctioned in 1888.  penal laws and Octroi limits were fixed in 18904.

 

3.   Municipalities are set up in cities and larger towns and are governed by the State enactments.  In the Punjab, municipalities are classified into three classes, on the basis of population, income other relevant factors, as under : 

              

(i)

Class I Municipalities, with population exceeding 50,000 ;

(ii)

Class II Municipalities with population exceeding 20,000 but not exceeding 50,000 ;

and

(iii) Class III Municipalities with population exceeding 10,000 but not exceeding 20,000

 

 

4.   The Municipal boundaries of Ludhiana, Jagaron, Raikot, Khanna and Machhiwara were fixed by Punjab Government Notification No. 683, dated the 28th September, 1886, No. 713, dated the 24th September, 1888 and No. 96, dated the 24th February, 1902.

 

               Their rules of business are given in the Punjab Government Gazette dated the 10th March, 1887, p. 284 of Part III ; also Notifications No. 43, dated the 3rd August, 1898 No.21, dated the 3rd August, 1899 (Ml. Manual, pp. 357-58).

 

               Their octroi limits were defined by Punjab Government Notification No. 479, dated the 1st July, 1890 and the schedule, prescribed by Notification No. 822, dated the 5th July, 1876, was revised in 1887, and 1899 (Notifications No. 110, dated the 11th March, 1887, and No. 330, dated the 5th July, 1899).  In the case of Jagraon Municipality, the schedule of Octroi, prescribed by Notification No. 822, dated the 5th July, 1876, was revised in 1897 (Notification No. 581, dated the 4th December, 1897 as corrected by Notifications No. 301, dated the 1st July, 1899, and No. 253, dated the 16th June, 1900) and in the case of Machhiwara Municipality, the schedule of Octroi, prescribed by Notification No. 1106-S., dated the 29th April, 1887.

 

               Building by-laws were sanctioned vide Punjab Government Gazette, Part III, p. 70, dated the 26th January, 1888, and penal bye-laws by Notification No. 370, dated the 3rd June, 1890. The penal bye-laws of Jagraon municipality were sanctioned by Notification No. 371, dated the 3rd June, 1890.  In the case of penal bye-laws the model rules were adopted (Ml. Manual pp. 450-51).

 

            Bahlolpur Municipality was abolished in 1886.  Similarly the Municipal Committee of Machhiwara was abolished in 1911.  Samarla got a small Town Committee in 1933 and was made a Class III Municipality in 1956.  Ludhiana was elevated to a Class I Municipality in 1949. Doraha, which had a Small Town Committee, became a Class III Municipality in 1956. 

 

 

Functions and Duties of Municipal Committees

 

 Under the Punjab Municipal Act 1911,the municipal committees are required to make reasonable provision within the limits of the municipality for lighting of public streets, places or buildings ; cleaning public streets, places and sewers and all spaces not being private property, which are open to the enjoyment of the public ; safe and sufficient water-supply for all domestic purposes ; extinction and prevention of fire,, regulating or abating offensive or dangerous trades or practices ; control of public and private buildings and thoroughfares ; establishing and managing of pounds ; requiring dangerous or insanitary buildings or places to be secured ; construction, maintenance and alteration in public streets, culverts, markets, veterinary dispensaries, slaughter houses, latrines, urinals, baths and washing places, drains sewers, and providing public facilities for drinking water ; control of infections diseases ; scavenging and house-scavenging ; acquiring, maintaining and regulating of burial and burning places for the disposal of dead, unclaimed dead bodies of paupers; disposal of mad and stray dogs and other animals; disposal of dead animals; public vaccination; registration of births and deaths ; and naming streets and numbering houses.

 

            Prior to 1957, elementary education was one of the obligatory functions of local bodies. But this system was not working satisfactorily. Charges of apathy, incompetency, ill- treatment of teachers, religious and political bias, nepotism and other forms of graft were leveled against local bodies. By  and large the municipal bodies had not developed adequate sense of civic responsibility in the field of education5.  In view of these factors, all municipal schools-primary, middle and high- in the State were provinciallzed in October,1957. The municipalities have been required to pay fixed contributions to Government in lieu of this obligation.

 

5.   As early as 1937, the Educational Commissioner, Government of India, observed : “it is obvious that the administration by local bodies of primary education has entirely failed.  Local bodies complain of inadequacy of funds, but the waste involved is such that three fourths of the expenditure on primary education is rendered entirely unproductive.”

 

 

            (b) Municipalities

 

            Ludhiana Municipality.- Ludhiana was constituted a municipality in 1867. It was raised to a class 11 municipality in 18866. In view of the growing importance of the  town, it was raised to class 1 municipality with effect from December 15,19497. the municipal limits were extended in 1952 and again in 1962, increasing the total area from 7 square miles in 1952 to about 17 square miles in 1962. the population of the town rose from 1,11,639 in 1941 to 1,53,795 in 1951 and 2,44,032 in 1961.

 

6.  Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 687, dated the 28th September, 1886.

7.   Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 10620-30-49/II-305, dated the December, 1949.

 

After the last extension of the municipal limits on January 16,1962, the delimitation of the wards of the municipality was notified, vide Punjab Government Notification No DE63/5A/3595, dated the 23 rd. may. 1963.The city was divided in to 38 constituencies out of which 3 are double member constituencies. Three seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. All the 41 members are elected members. The last municipal election was held in 19648.

 

8. The election of the Ludhiana municipality, held in 1964, was notified,- vide Punjab Government Notification No. 5580 ICIII-64/23834, dated the 1st July, 1964.  The election of the President of the municipality was notified, - vide Punjab Government Notification No. 12583-ICI-64/45675, dated the 10th  December, 1964.

 

            The Punjab Municipal (Executive Officer) Act,1931, was extended to the Ludhiana Municipality on November 3,19659, and a P.C.S. officer was appointed as an Executive Officer from November 20th ,1965.

 

9.  Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 11661-201-65/45661, dated the 3rd November, 1965

 

            Local Government has been defined as the provision of services to a local community through a representative assembly. Municipal services affect the life of the citizens from womb to death. The key civic services are as under:

 

            Communications.- The provision of communication of one of the main function assigned to municipalities. It includes construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, culverts etc. Only district roads falling within the limits of municipalities are the concern of the municipal committees concerned.

 

            All the public streets and roads within the Ludhiana municipal limits are brick-paved tarred or slabbed. Surface drains have been provided in all the localities where streets have been declared public streets and are maintained by the municipality.

 

            The municipal roads in the town have been considerably improved during the last few years. The Mall , the Daya Nand Hospital Road and Jail Road have been converted in to two-way traffic roads. This  has not only  added to the beauty  of the localities but has greatly helped in reducing traffic jams. Another important artery of industrial communications, viz. the Gill Road, bearing the heaviest traffic, is also being converted in to a two-way traffic road. Other roads in the city have, as for as possible, been re-conditioned so as to provide foot-paths for the pedestrians.

 

            Medical and Public Health,- Medical and public health are among the obligatory functions of municipalities. The municipality is responsible for health  administration in their respective areas including the control of epidemic  diseases. The work in this field is divided in to several activities, e. g., conservancy, sanitation, medical relief, anti-epidemic work, prophylactic public health(such as vaccination and anti-malaria work.) and vital statistics.

 

            (i) Conservancy.- The municipality has dry-latrine system and has employed 467 whole-time and 164 part time sweepers for sweepers for sweeping the streets  and removal of refuse  which is taken through trucks and trailers, animals-driven carts and donkeys to the dumping grounds situated on all the four sides of the city. The refuse is dumped and composed into the manure. The house scavenging is done by private sweepers.

 

            (ii) Sanitation.- The Construction of underground sewerage is in progress since 1961. The sewers in the Civil Line, Miller Ganj and Bharat Nagar are already complete and functioning.

 

            (iii) Public Health.- The municipality has a whole-time Superintendent Vaccination, and 8,930 persons re-vaccinated. In the same year, 10,607 births and 2,668 deaths were recorded.

 

            Vital statistics are the eyes and ears of the health organisation. But generally adequate attention is  not paid to this basic work. Consequently vital statistics of the municipality are generally deficient both in quality and quantity.

            Protected Water Supply.-  Piped water-supply for Ludhiana was originally provided as far back as 1906-07. In the beginning, water was supplied from 24 shallow-wells by means of steam- pumping plants. This arrangement originally made to cater for a small population, because inadequate for the growing needs of the fast developing city. After the partition of 1947 in particular, the city developed extensively and the population also increased considerable. The municipality, therefore, undertook the National water-supply scheme during the Third Five-Year-plan. The water is now supplied through electrically worked deep tube wells. The daily discharge of water is 42.45 lakh gallons. Rs. 2,68,525 were spent for laying mains and sub-mains during 1963-64. The R.C.C. over-head reservoir of lakh gallon capacity at a cost of Rs. 1,78,838 was completed in 1964-65 to feed three storeyed buildings. A newly constructed dhobi ghat has got has also been granted water connection. The municipality has also taken up the work of installation of tube wells and laying of mains and sub-mains on Samrala Road, Jail Road, Jawahar Nagar, Industrial areas, Tagore Nagar, Sham Singh Road and Sukhram Nagar.

 

            Fire Fighting Service.- The municipality maintains an up-to-date fire brigade with standard equipment. The staff works in three shifts of eight hours each. A sub-station has been established in the Miller Ganj.

           

            Miscellaneous activities.- As  Ludhiana lacks gardens, the municipality has laid a beautiful garden near the Head Water Works, named as ‘Nehru Garden’. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall, with capacity to accommodate 3,000 persons is also being built at a cost of Rs. 3 Lakhs.

 

            A model fruit and Vegetable Market has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs. A fodder market has also market has also been constructed by its side. The slaughter house is also being shifted to a newly constructed modern style building outside the city.

 

            The main sources of income of the municipality are octroi, house tax tahbazari fee, water-rate, show ax and rent of shops, besides some other miscellaneous sources.

 

            The income and expenditure of the municipality during the period 1941-42 to 1956-66 were as under:

 

Year

Income

Expenditure

 

Rs.

Rs.

1941-42

3,18,729

3,47,061

1951-52

16,10,328

15,12,225

1956-57

27,05,624

24,69,969

1961-62

48,85,488

43,61,901

1962-63

47,18,961

48,61,023

1963-64

52,07,746

42,23,396

1964-65

66,23,934

58,56,666

1965-66

61,72,479

68,87,805

 

(Source: Secretary, Municipal Committee, Ludhiana)

 

            Doraha Municipality :- Doraha fall in Payal sub-tahsil which was transferred from Patiala district to Ludhiana district on November, 1963.

 

            Doraha was constituted as small town committee in 1945. The Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, was made applicable to the municipality is 1956 when the erstwhile Pepsu was merged with erstwhile Punjab. According to the Census of 1961, the population of the town is 4601.

 

            Doraha was formed a class III municipality in 1956. the total strength of the members of the municipal committee as fixed under section 11 of the Punjab Municipal Act,1811, is 8. The municipal area has been divided into 8 wards. The election of the municipal committee was last held in 1961.

 

            The main sources of income of the municipality are taxes and fees such as octroi, local rate, taxes, fees. Property of local bodies, etc. The income and expenditure of the municipality, during the period 1954-55 to 1965-66 were as under :-

 

 

Year

 

Income

Expenditure

 

 

Rs.

Rs.

1954 –55         

..

69,127

1,90,058

1956-57

..

77,860

76,697

1961-62

..

76,097

70,299

1962-63

..

1,16,360

1,05,723

1963-64

..

94,421

80,031

1964-65

..

91,311

79,758

1965-66

..

96,825

1,18,327

 

                       (Source : Secretary, Municipal Committee, Doraha).

     

Jagraon Municipality : Jagraon was constituted in to a class 11 municipality in 1886. It was reduced to a Notified Area Committee10 in accordance with the Punjab Municipal Act. 1911, but was restored to the status of a  class 11 municipality in 1923.

 

10.  Town Area Committees and Notified Area Committees are at the lowest rung of the ladder.  They are miniature, embryonic local authorities.  Town area committees are established for small towns in rural areas excluding agricultural villages.  Notified areas are town which are not considered fit for full municipal institutions.  Some portions of the State Municipal Act are applied to them and their affairs are administered by small nominated committees.  In each case, the maximum population level is 10,000.  The powers and functions of town area committees and notified area committees are limited and the degree of State control over them is more than in the case of municipalities.

 

            There are 15 members of the Municipality.

 

The water works system function in a part of the town. Out of a total cost of Rs. 7,00,000 incurred by the State Public Health Department, Rs.4,00,000 were contributed

by the municipality for the construction of the water-works which started giving connections in 1966.

 

            Almost all the streets in the town are paved and provided with pucca drains on both sides. The street lighting facility  has been provided through electric bulbs, gases and kerosene oil lanterns. The municipal park named Lajpat Rai Park was constructed in 1961 at a cost of Rs.3,000.

 

For conservancy, 2 sanitary patrols and 74 whole-time sweepers have been appointed for sweeping the streets and bazars. The refuse and night soil are deposited in compost pits.

 

A hospital is run by the municipality. In addition a part time Municipal Medical Officers of health Inspector of Vaccination and Sanitation and a Vaccinator have been employed by the municipality.

 

The main sources of income of the Jagraon municipality are taxes and fees, such as octroi, house tax, cycle tax, cinema show tax, tahbazari fee, slaughter house fee, etc.

 

The income and expenditure of the municipality, during the period 1940-41 to 1965-66, were as under :

 

Year

Income

Expenditure

 

Rs.

Rs.

1941-42

70,644

67,624

1951-52

2,16,676

1,93,841

1956-57

3,73,058

3,35,311

1961-62

5,98,134

4,01,864

1962-63

4,73,136

6,74,591

1963-64

4,74,175

4,65,096

1964-65

4,86,363

4,54,724

1965-66

5,45,654

4,77,997

 

                       (Source : Secretary, Municipal Committee, Jagraon).

 

Raikot Municipality : Raikot was constituted a class 11 municipality  in 188611. It was reduced to a notified area committee in accordance with the  Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, and then raise to a small town committee in accordance with the Punjab Small Towns Act, 1922. On the repeal of the Small Town Act in 1954, it was re-constituted a Class 11 municipality in 1961, under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.

 

11.  Vide Punjab Government Notification No.  687, dated the 28th September, 1886.

 

            The Municipal area is divided into 9 wards, out of which 4 form double member constituencies and 5 single member constituencies12.

 

12.   Vide Punjab Government Notification NO. 2334/L.F.A., dated the 19th April, 1961.

 

            Almost all the streets of the town are paved.  The old central drains have been replaced by side drains.  Street lighting is provided.  A park for women and children has been constructed.

 

            The Assistant Surgeon, incharge Civil Dispensary, is the Honorary Medical officer of Health.  He is assisted by a Sanitary Inspector who also attends to the vaccination work.

 

            The main sources of income of the municipality are house tax, local rate, octroi and property of local body, etc.

 

            The income and expenditure of the municipality, during the period 1948-49 to 1965-66, were as under :

 

            Samrala Municipality : Samrala was constituted a small town committed in 1933, under the Punjab Small Towns Act, 1922.  On the repeal of the Act in 1954, this local body was raised to a Class III municipality.  The Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, was made applicable within the jurisdiction of this committee from April 1, 1955.

 

            The municipal area is divided into 9 wards, out of which 2 from double member constituencies.  There are in all 11 members of the municipal committee.

 

            Electric lighting was provided in the town in 1961.  A regular drainage system has been laid out.  The sullage water is pumped out from sullage tanks by means of electric pumping-sets.  A scheme for piped water-supply has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2,38,953.

 

            Road links have been consolidated, viz., Samrala-Khanna Road within town limits, Ludhiana-Chandigarh Road within town limits, and a new link or circular road.

 

            Suitable arrangements have been made for conservancy and sanitation in the town.  A Sanitary Inspector and a Jamadar supervise the conservancy staff.  Another Sanitary Inspector looked after the public health and the vaccination and re-vaccination in the town13.

 

13.  A part time Municipal Medical Officer of Health was appointed from June 15, 1967.

 

            The main sources of income of the municipality are the usual fees, house tas, property of local bodies, octroi, etc.

 

            The income and expenditure of the municipality, during the period 1961-62 to 1965-66, were as under :

 

Year

Income

Expenditure

 

Rs.

Rs.

1961-62

1,37,959

1,32,704

1962-63

1,46,201

1,73,480

1963-64

1,80,484

1,74,931

1964-65

3,40,316

3,40,408

1965-66

1,98,483

1,89,309

 

                       (Source : Secretary, Municipal Committee, Smarala)

 

            Khanna Municipality : Headquarters of a petty Sikh chiefship, Khanna along with its large jagir, lapsed to the Britist in A.D. 1850 on the death of the last representative of the family named Mai Daian Kaur.  Khanna was constituted a Class II municipality in 188614.  It was reduced to a notified area committee in accordance with the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.  It was again raised to the status of a small town committee in 1924 in accordance with the Punjab Small Town Act, 1922, and restored to a Class II municipality in 1933,- vide Punjab Government Notification No. 24113, dated

the 22nd September, 1933.  The boundaries of the municipality were specified in 1933, - vide the same Notification No. 3822/C/52/11/3410, dated the 11th June,. 1952.

 

14. Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 687, dated the 28th September, 1886.

 

            The municipal committed was superseded in 195215 but was re-constituted in 1955.16  The last election was held on May, 31, 196417.

 

15. Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 1697-C-52/11-1797, dated the 31st march, 1952.

16.  Vide Punjab Government Notification No. 2650-A-I-LFA, dated the 17th June, 1955.

17. The names of the 15 members (13 General plus 2 Reserve) of the Khanna Municipal Committee, were notified, - vide Punjab Government Notification No. 2193/LFA, dated the 11th June, 1964.

 

 

            The main sources of income of the municipality are local rate, taxes, fees, property of local bodies, medical and health, etc.

 

            The income and expenditure of the municipality, during the period from 1910-11 to 1965-66, were as under :

 

Year

Income

Expenditure

 

Rs.

Rs.

1910-11

6,829

6,826

1920-21

5,028

4,961

1930-31

13,590

10,301

1940-41

30,097

20,217

1950-51

1,13,579

1,23,226

1951-52

1,34,798

1,33,694

1956-57

3,67,896

3,55,755

1961-62

6,54,161

6,42,138

1962-63

10,17,216

10,33,828

1963-64

5,39,870

4,98,486

1964-65

6,06,725

6,95,453

1965-66

10,05,113

9,11,664

 

 (Source : Secretary, Municipal Committee, Khanna)

 

 

Town Planning and public health

 

Town Planning, which promotes healthy living conditions for the inhabitants, is still in its infancy in the country.  The Department of Town and Country Planning, Punjab, helps and advises the municipal committees and improvement trusts, wherever these exist, in the preparation of planning schemes which are regulated under the provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, and the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922 respectively.

 

            The town planning work at Ludhiana was started in 1944.  At present (1966) it is looked after by the Assistant Town Planner, Ludhiana, who is under the control of Divisional Town Planner, Ludhiana Division, Ludhiana.

 

            Ludhiana has developed tremendously since 1947.  It has expanded in all directions and quite a few residential colonies and industrial estates and areas have come up.

 

            Besides Ludhiana, town planning schemes are being worked out in four other municipal towns, in the district, viz., Jagraon, Raikot, Samrala and Khanna.

 

            The Assistant Town Planner, Ludhiana, has to function in a restricted manner.  Town Planning is a centralized and specialised agency and can only advise the municipalities, improvement trusts and Government on all the matters relating to town planning.  It is essentially the functions of municipalities or improvement trusts to implement the town planning scheme under Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, and the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922.

 

            The various types of town planning schemes in the towns in the district, sponsored under various enactments, are as under :

 

(1)

Town Planning Schemes for unbuilt areas and building schemes for built up areas under section 192 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.

(2)

Development and other slum clearance schemes farmed by the Town Improvement Trusts,

(3)

Government sponsored schemes, viz.,-

 

(i)   Industrial Estates

 

(ii)  Industrial Areas

 

(iii) Mandi Development Schemes :

 

(iv)  Rahabilitation Schemes, viz., Model Twonships, 8 Marla Housing Schemes and 4 Marla Housing Schemes, and

(4)

Housing Schemes for various Co-operative Housing Societies.

 

 

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