(i)

(i) Superintending Engineer, Patiala Drainage Circle, Patiala

Opened on 28 November 1962, this circle has one division under it, viz. Patiala Drainage Division ,Patiala. The Superintending Engineer is assisted by 1 Circle head Draftsman, 1 Superintendent Grade II, 1 Superintendent Grade III, 2 Divisional Head Draftsmen, 3 Accounts Clerks, 1 Stenographer, 3 Draftsmen, 3 Junior Draftsmen, 13 Clerks , besides other class IV staff.

The main functions of this circle are to make new schemes, maintenance of existing bunds, drains for drawing out the flood water during the rainy season from the low lying areas and to protect the land and abadies from the fury of floods.

Executive Engineer, Patiala Drainage Division, Patiala.—Opened on 4 July 1960, this division is headed by an Executive Engineer. The Executive Engineer is assisted by 1 Divisional head Draftsman, 1 Draftsman, 1 Accountant , besides other Class III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

This division has three subdivisions under it: Patiala Drainage Subdivision, Patiala: Tangri Subdivision, Patiala and Drainage Construction subdivision No. 1, Patiala, Each subdivision is under the charge of a Sub Divisional Engineer who is assisted by 6 Junior Engineers,besides other Class III and Class IV staff.

(a) Public Relations Department

At the district level, the deapartment is represented by the District Public Relations Officer , Patiala , whose office was established on 1 November 1956. He is assisted by 2 Assistant Public Relations Officers , 5 Tahsil Publicity Orgnizers , 2 Field Publicity Assistants, 2 Information Centre Assistants, 1 Accountant, 1 Drama Inspector, 1 Radio Mechanic, 2 Cinema Operators, 1 Stage Master, 1 Tabla Master, 1 Harmonium Mastr, 5 Actors, besides other ministerial/technical Class III and Class IV staff.

The functions of the District Public Relations Officer are; to serve as liaison between the State Government and the public; to disseminate and publicise governmental activities through media of staging drama; screening of cinema shows, holding of conferences and Kavi darbars (poetic symposia); setting up of exhibitions; display and distribution of literature; announcement of various orders of the government for the general public in urban as well as in rural areas, etc. Besides, he effects publicity through press and maintains close contacts between government and the people and keeps government informed of public reaction to its plans and policies and conveys the public grievances to the district and State authorities. He also receives tourists not only from within the country but also from abroad. Besides, under the Community Listening Scheme, radio and transister sets are supplied to the panchayats by the Government through the District Public Relations Officer on subsidized rates so as to enable the people in the villages, especially those in remote areas, to know about the day-to-day development and other progressive activities taking place in the country.

© Co-operative Department

The work of the Co-operative Department in the district is looked after by the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Patiala, whose office was established on 1 November 1956. He is under the administrative control of the Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh. He is assisted by three Assistant Registrars Co-operative Socieities, one each at Patiala, Sirhind and Samana. Besides, he is assisted by 1 Superintendent Grade III, 1 Statistical Assistant, 2 Inspectors Grade I, 2 Inspectors Grade II, 1 Accountant and other ministerial and Class IV staff.

The office of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Sirhind was established on 5 August 1970. He is assisted by 1 Statistical Assistant, 1 Superintendent Grade III, 29 Inspectors, 29 Inspectors Grade II, besides other ministerial Class III and Class IV staff.

The office of the Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Samana at Patiala was established on 28 May 1979. He is assisted by 14 Inspectors Grade I, 14 Inspectors Grade II, besides other ministerial Class III and Class IV staff.

The main functions of these offices are to ensure healthy growth and development of the co-operative movement; to register co-operative societies; to conduct inspection and supervision over the societies; to provide requisite credit to the societies for the purchase of fertilizers, farm machinery, implements, pesticides, seeds, installation of tube-wells, to distribute essential commodities in the rural areas, and to take legal action against defaulter of co-operative loans as per provisions of the Co-operative Act.

(d) Food and Supplies Department

The department is represented at the district level by the District Food and Supplies Controller, whose work is supervised by the Deputy Director, Firld, Patiala at the Divisional level. These officers are under the administrative control of the Director, Food and Supplies, Punjab, Chandigarh.

This office has been functioning since the merger of PEPSU into Punjab State in 1956, but exact date of its establishment is not available. The District Food and Supplies Controller is assisted by 1 Additional District Food and Supplies Controller, 5 District Food and Supplies Officers, 12 Assistant Food and Supplies Officers, 78 Inspectors, 100 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Superintendent, 1 Statistical Assistant, 3 Accountants, 1 Senior Auditor, 1 Sectional Officer, 1 Accountant Officer, 29 Junior Auditors, 5 Head Analysts, 15 Junior Analysts besides other allied Class III and Class IV staff.

The main functions of the department are procurement of foodgrains, distribution of sugar, rice, wheat flour and vegetable ghee, etc. through fair price shops in the urban as well as rural areas; issue/renewal of licences for brickkilns; firewood, coal depots, rice mills, pulses, allotment of coal/ coke and cement, kerosene, ghee, rice, sugar, etc. The department also maintains its own godowns for storage of foodgrains.

Finance Department

The department is represented at the district level by the Treasury Officer, Patiala, who is in charge of the District Treasury, Patiala. Prior to 1957, the treasuries were under the direct controlof the Deputy Commissioner. The Treasury Officer, Patiala is assisted by 9 Assistant Treasury Officers, 2 Superintendents Grade III, 20 Assistants, 22 Senior Clerks, 1 District Treasurer, 9 Assistant Treasurers, besides other ministerial Class III and Class IV staff.

The main functions of the Treasury Officer and the Assistant Treasury Officers are to issue all kinds of stamps, to maintain the initial accounts of Government receipts and payments, passing the bills and pension vouchers, etc. They are also responsible to the Accountant General, Punjab, Chandigarh for the regular submission of monthly accounts and allied returns, etc.

Planning Department

The department is represented at the district level by the Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser, Patiala, whose office was established in 1958. The Deputy Economic and Statistical Adviser is assisted by 1 District Statistical Officer, 1 Research Officer, 4 Technical Assistants, 5 Statistical Assistants/Inspectors, 12 Investigators, 1 Office Assistant, besides other ministerial Class III and Class IV staff.

The main functions of this office are to collect, analyse and compile the statistical data from various offices at the district level, to conduct adhoc socio-economic surveys, to collect price data for supplying to the different Central and State Government agencies, to collect weekly retail prices, preparation of district plans and to assist the Deputy Commissioner in the formulation of District plans.

Languages Department, Punjab, Patiala

The Languages Department, Punjab came into existence on 1 November 1956, consequent upon the integration of the Languages Department of erstwhile Punjab and the Punjabi Department of erstwhile PEPSU. On the reorganization of Punjab on 1 November 1966, on linguistic basis, the necessity for developing Punjabi language and literature and preparing reference books, informative books and children literature was felt. Consequently, the Languages Department, formulated several schemes to introduce regional language in the administrative sphere upto the State level to adopt it as court language and as medium of instruction upto the University level as well. Besides, the department undertook the development and propagation of National language Hindi and also made efforts for the popularization of Sanskrit and Urdu languages.

The Languages Department aims at the development and enrichment of Punjabi and Hindi and the promotion of Sanskrit and Urdu languages in the Punjab State. For this purpose, the Department has undertaken various programmes, such as to honour litterateurs; to organize book exhibitions; seminars; Kavi sammelans (poetic symposia) literary contests, to award prizes to the best published books and best literature of the year; to bring out monthly journals in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English; to grant financial aid to indigent writers/artists of the State and to provide financial assistance to Organisations/Institutions/Individuals for production of literary works, to compile encyclopaedia, to prepare unilingual, bilingual, trilingual dictionaries and dialectial glossaries, etc. to translate rules, forms and other Government material and classical literary works of all important languages of the world into Punjabi, to coin and adopt the terms both in Punjabi and Hindi and to conduct examination in Punjabi to enable the Employees to qualify themselves in Punjabi and to impart training in Punjabi shorthand and typewriting to Government employees (English knowing Stenographers and Typists) as well as private candidates.

The Director, Languages Department, Punjab is the Head of the Department, who looks after the administrative as well as technical works of the Languages Department. He is assisted by 2 Deputy Directors, 1 Chief Editor (Encyclopaedia), 12 Assistant Directors, 3 Editors (Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu), 2 Section Editors, 1 Sales Officer, 228 Class III and 86 Class IV employees in the administrative as well as technical work. For the functional convenience, the work at the headquarters is divided into several sections, viz. Establishment, Accounts, Introduction, Translation, Terminology, Lexicography, Publication, Development, Informative and Children Literature and English Magazine and Extension Service, etc. Each section is headed by a Gazetted Officer (Class II). At the district level, the ork is looked after by 1 District Languages Officer, who is assisted by 1 Insrucotr and 1 Clerk-cum-typist.

District Languages Officer, Patiala. The Office of the District Languages Officer, Patiala was established in November 1962. He is assisted by an Instructor, a Clerk and Class IV staff.

The main functions of the District Languages Officer, Patiala, are: to popularize Punjabi in the offices; to impart training in Punjabi shorthand and typewriting; to organize literary meetings, Kavi darbars (poetic symposia), seminars, drama debates and poetic compositions; to celebrate birth/death anniversaries of the reputed late poets/writers of the district at their native places, to undertake linguistic survey and to bring out glossaries; to award financial assistance to literary men and institutions/organizations; and the assists the government offices in translating pamphlets/books in Punjabi. The District Languages Officer also visits various government offices/institutions in the district to guide the staff.

Soil Conservation Department

At the district level, the department is represented by three Sub Divisional Soil Conservation Officers, one each posted at Patiala, Nabha and Dera Bassi. They are under the administrative control of the Chief Conservator of Soils, Punjab, Chandigarh.

The Officer of the Sub Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, patiala ws established in April 1966. He is assisted by 1 Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, 4 Agricultural Inspectors/Soil Conservation Inspectors/Sectional Officers, 19 Agricultural Sub-Inspectors/Surveyors, 1 Draftsman, 2 Patwaris, 2 Tracers, besides other Class III and Class IV staff.

The office of the Sub Divisional Soil Consrvation Officer, Nabha was established inJuly 1969. he is assisted by 1 Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, 4 Agricultural Inspectors/Sectional Officers, 19 Agricultural Sub Inspectors/Surveyors, 1 Draftsman, 3 Patwaris, 2 Tracers, besides other Class III and Class IV staff.

The office of the Sub Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Dera Bassi was sopened in September 1975 in order to accelerate the tempo of soil conservation works in the district. He is assisted by 1 Assistant Soil Conservation Officer, 4 Agricultural Inspectors/Soil Conservation Inspectors/Sectional Officers, 19 Agricultural Sub Inspectors/Surveyors, 1 Draftsman, 2 Junior Draftsmen, 2 Patwaris besides other miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.

The main functions of the department are the executionof land improvement schemes which include works for soil conservation, improving of irrigation system by constructing pucca water channels, the laying of underground irrigation system and installing sprinkler irrigation system in the fields of the cultivators. It also undertakes the leveling of land so that proper irrigation can be provided. The field work is got executed by the Assistant Soil Conservation Officers.

(i) Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala

The office of the Punjab Public Service Commission was established at Shimla in 1947 after the partition of the Country. The Commission’s constitution and the area of functioning underwent a change with the merger of PEPSU with Punjab in November 1956. In 1957, the headquarters of the Punjab Public Service Commission were shifted from Shimla to Patiala. Since them, it has been functioning at Patiala.

The Punjab Public Service Commission deals with matters of recruitment, approval of promotions, disciplinary actions, service rules, extension of tenure of appointments made by the State Government, etc. relating to Class I and Class II posts. Besides, the Commission holds combines examinations for recruitment to various posts, i.e. PCS (Executive Branch), Excise and Taxation Officers, Assistant Excise and Taxation Officers, Tahsildars/Assistant Registrar Co-operative Societies, Assistant Excise and Taxation Officers, Tahsildars/Assistant Registrar Co-operative Societies, Assistant Employment Officers (Group I), PCS (Judicial Branch) (Group II), Deputy Superintendents of Jails and Police (Group III), Engineering Services Class I and Class II of all branches of the PWD and Temporary Engineers (Group IV), Labour Officers and Welfare Officers (Group V), Treasury Officers (Group IV), Punjab Forest Services Class I and Class II (Group VII), and District Industries Officers, Assistant Director of Industries and Assistant Controller of Stores (Group VIII).

The Commission is comprised of a Chairman and 5 members. Besides, it has the following permanent staff: 1 Under Secretary, 1 OSD, 3 Superintendents Grade I, 3 Superintendents Grade III, 17 Assistants, 1 Legal Assistant, 7 Senior Scale Stenographers, 1 Junior Scale Stenographer, 1 Senior Scale Stenographer with the Chairman, 15 Clerks and other Class III and Class IV staff.

Chief Electrical Inspector, Patiala

The Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government, Punjab, was established at Patiala to safeguard the life and property of the people of State from electricity hazards. The Chief Electrical Inspector is assisted by 2 Executive Engineers, 15 Assistant Electrical Inspectors, 12 Line Superintendents, 1 Superintendent, 3 Auditors, 1 Assistant, 1 Senior Scale Stenographer, 13 Clerks, 2 Junior Scale Stenographers, 1 Draftsman, besides Class IV staff.

The main functions of the department are investigation of electrical accidents; institution of prosecution against the defaulters for the violation of rules; determination of disputes between the supplier and consumers; inspection according to approval of new high and extra high voltage installation; inspection of neon signs and x-ray installation and to conduct examination for the grant of competency certificate /permits to Supervisors /Wiremen, issuing of new contractor;s license and renewal thereof; inspection/approval of cinema installation: to conduct cinema operator’s examination for the grant of cinema operator certificate; to ensure that electricity duty is paid to government correctly and promptly; to recover electricity duty with penalty from intentional evaders; to allow refund to a consumer in case of excess payment of electricity duty as arrears of land revenue from the permanent defaulters.

CHAPTER XIV

LOCAL SELF- GOVERNMENT

v Evolution 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) Evolution of local Self- Government in the District

Local self-government in the Patiala District ,like other districts of Punjab , consists of municipal committees, notified area committees, zila parishad, panchayat samitis and panchayats. These units possess a defined area, a population , an organization and also the authority to undertake and the power to perform public activities . With in its territory, a local government unit seeks to give opportunities to the people for the expression of their opinion in regard to local affairs. It enables them to choose their representatives to take care of local affairs on their behalf. While working within the guide lines provided by the State Government , these institutions are functionally autonomous in many respects.

Local Self-government in Punjab is of two Kinds: urban local self-government and rural local self –government . The important components of urban local self-government are municipal committees, and that of rural local self –government are zile parishads, panchayats. The development in urban areas is described here, while that of rural areas falls under the head ‘Panchayat Raj’

Before the partition of India, most area of this district was in the dominion of erstwhile princely State of Patiala. The State had its own local self-government department. The local bodies of the State functioned under this department. Except Patiala municipality, all other local bodies were declared as Small Town Committees. Officials and non-officials were nominated as members. Tahsildars and Naib-Tahsildars were nominated as President of the committees. Thus, before the constitution of municipal committees in the district in the first half of the 20^th century, the functions of the local bodies were performed by the government departments of the erstwhile princely States.

The first step towards the establishment of local Government in the area now comprising the Patiala District was the constitution of municipality in 1890, at Dera Bassi, which was at the time tahsil headquarters of Kalisa State. The next municipal committee was constituted at Patiala in about 1904. There were eight nominated members including officials and non-officials. In those days, only an official coud be appointed as President by the State Government. With the lapse of time, the number of non-official members. The Municipal Committee. Patiala was administrated by an elected body of 26 members. Out of these, 2 members belonged to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Maharaja of Patiala enacted the Patiala Small Town Act in 1995 Bikrami (AD 1938), for the constitution of municipal committees failing within his State. Small Town Committees were constituted under the Act at Samana, Rajpura and Bassi Pathana in 1939, Banur and Sanaur in 1945 and Amloh, Gobindgarh and Nabha in 1949. All these were converted into Class II and Class III municipal committees in September 1956.

On the merger of princely states into Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) in 1948, the municipal committees were declared independent and self governing bodies. Provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, amended upto 1949, and Patiala Small Town Act, 1946, were made applicable to Class II and Class III municipal committees of this district. The first municipal elections in the district were held in 1952 and the municipal committees became independent local bodies.

With the merger of (PEPSU) IN THE Punjab on 1 November 1956, all enactments relating to the municipal administration in the Punjab State became applicable to the municipalities of this district also. Thereafter, elected bodies came into being under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, which was in force in the Punjab Provision was made for the appointment of official advisers who were empowered to participate in the meeting of the municipal committees but not entitled to vote. In this way, Popular control over the local bodies was encouraged and powers were granted in regard to their functions and capacities. Zila Parishads were also strengthened with delegation of large powers. Legislation were enacted to regulate the functions, powers and responsibilities of the local bodies. New election rules were framed to provide for election on the basis of universal adult franchise. The system of communal electorate was done away with. In view thereof, provision was made for reservation of seats in the local bodies for members of the Scheduled Castes in proportion to their population within the area of municipal committees. Under the Punjab Municipal (Amended Act, 1956, reservation was made for the members of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in the service of municipal committees. The term of office of a Municipal Commissioner in the State is five years.

The last elections to the municipal committees of the Patiala District, except Rajpura were held on 10 June 1979. These committees were superseded on 16 November 1985 and since then their affairs are looked after by the Administrators appointed by the Government. The elections to the Rajpura Municipality were, however, held on 11 May 1975 and the municipality was superseded on 20 June 1980. Since then, affairs of the municipality are also looked after by an Administration appointed by the Government.

(b) Organization and Structure Function and Duties of Municipal Committees

Statutorily, the Punjab municipal bodies have two types of functions: obligatory and optional. Obligatory functions are those which every municipal committee has to perform, and if for their performance the committee does not make sufficient provision in its budget, the State Government compels it to do so; and if the committee fails to perform these functions satisfactorily, the State Government, the State Government may even supersede the committee and place it under the charge of one of its own officers. Obligatory functions are largely of four types : public works and public health. These include such activities as regulating or preventing abetment of offensive or dangerous trades, removing of obstructions and projections in public street , lighting and cleaning of public street extinguishing of fires, provision and regulation of slaughter houses, burial grounds, latrines, picnic spots, drains and sewers, registration of births and deaths, public vaccination, inoculation and primary education, etc.

The list of optional functions is comprehensive and includes construction and maintenance of public streets, establishing and maintaining public parks gardens, libraries asylums, museums, dharamshalas, rest-houses, gardens lunatic asylums, furthering education, planting and maintaining of roadside trees, arranging for the destruction of stray dogs, maintaining dairy farms and breeding studs, holding of exhibitions, etc.

There are 11 municipal committees in the district at Patiala, Samana, Rajpura, Amloh, Sirhind, Gobindgarh, Dera Bassi, Banur, Sanaur, Bassi Pathana and Nabha. Besides, there is one notified area committee at Patran. Out of these, 3 are Class I, 5 Class II and 3 Class III. The income and expenditure of each municipal committee is given in Appendix at the end of this chapter.

The sources of income of different municipalities include house tax, octroi, toll tax, water rate, licence fee, dhobi quat fee, advertisement fee, adda fee, show tax, entertainment tax, liquor tax, etc.

A brief account of each municipality in the district is given below:

Amloh Municipalities

The municipality was first constituted as a Small Town Committee in 1949. A Magistrate was appointed as its President and the members were nominated from the public. Since 1955, the President as well as members are being elected. It is now a Class III municipality.

According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 2.69 sq. km. And its population was 7,098.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include street lighting, drainage, water supply and disposal of town refuse. It maintains 5 km of metalled road roads.

Banur Municipality

A Small Twon Committee was first constituted at Banur in 1945 by the erstwhile Patiala State. It was converted into a Class II municipality in 1955.

According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 4.50 sq.Km. and its population was 7,453.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, Street lighting cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse . The committee maintains a library and a park. It has installed 38 tube points and 120 bulbs. The length of paved streets maintained by the municipality is 6 Km. Besides, it maintains 2.25 km of metalled roads within the municipal area.

Bassi Pathana Municipality

The municipality was declared a Small Town committee in 1939. Since 1955, it is a Class II municipality.

According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 3.89 sq. Km. And its population was 16,672.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, roads, drains,street lighting and cleanliness of the town . The municipality has also installed 325 tube light points, 100 bulbs and 10 mercury lamp points in the town. Besides,it maintains 4 Km of metalled roads.

Dera Bassi Municipality

The municipality of Dera bassi was constituted in 1890. It was the first municipality constituted in the Patiala District. It is a Class II municipality.

According to the 1981 Census , the area of the town within the municipal limits was 3.06 sq.km. and its population was 7,421.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include street lighting, water supply and arrangements for the cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse . The municipality has covered 400 slum dewellers units under 20 Point Programme Slum Improvement scheme . It has also provided 920domestic water connections, 176 street light points, 98 tube light points and 78 lamp points. Besides, the municipality maintains 3 Km of metalled roads.

Gobindgarh Municipality

The municipality was declared a Small Town Committee in 1949 . Since 1976, it is a Class I municipality.

According to the 1981 Census , the area of the town within the municipal limits was 9.00 sq. km. And its population was 26,637.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, sewerage, roads, drains,street lighting, bus stand and parks. It also maintains 23 km of roads.

Nabha Municipality

The municipality was first constituted by the PEPSU Government in 1949. It is a Class II municipality. According to the 1981 census , the area of the town within the municipal limits was 15.48 sq.Km. and its population was 45,921.

Nabha is an important town of the district in the matter of civic and other amenities . There is a network of cement concrete roads in the town. It is also well-electrified. A Large number of electric connections have been provided for domestic and commercial purposes. The municipal committee maintains it own water works for the supply of drinking water. The laying of underground sewerage in the old localities of the town is in progress. The town abounds in service latrines and the night soil is disposed of by wheel barrows. The municipality maintains a bus stand, 2 lavatory blocks, 5 urinals, 2 reading rooms, 3 parks, 1,680 street light points , 4 tubewells , 2 water tanks, 29 water stand posts, 10 rubbish depots and 25 rubbish drums,etc. It also maintains 5tractors, 16 trollies, and I shopping center. Besides , the municipality maintains 75.90 km of metalled roads.

Patiala Municipality

The municipality was constituted in 1903 . It is a Class I municipality .According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 31.20 sq.km. and its population was 2,05,141.

In the matter of civic and other amenities, Patiala city has an edge over other towns of the district. The civic amenities provided by the municipality include sanitation, cleanliness, drains, maintenance of roads, street lighting , parks children parks, fountains, libraries, water supply and sewerage, etc. The Mall Road in the city is a good specimen of concrete work . The supply of drinking water in many parks of the city is by tubewells and running water taps. The night soil is generally disposed of through tractor trollies and wheel barrows. The city is adequately electrified and well organised fire-fighting service is available . The municipality maintains 448 km of different types of roads.

Patran Notified Area Committee

A notified area committee was constituted at Patran in June 11970. According to the 1981 Census , the area of the town within the municpal limits was 3.00 sq. km. And its population was 7,998.

The civic amenities provided by the committee include sanitation, water supply, street lighting , sewerage and cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse. The committee maintains a tractor trolley and a sprinkling tank. It has installed 350 street light points in the town. It has provided 399 water connections to the residents. Besides , the committee maintains parks for its citizens.

Rajpura Municipality

A Small Town Committee was first constituted at Rajpura during 1939. From onwards, it was under the control of the PEPSU Township Development Board.But in 1961 , its administration was taken over by a Notified Area Committee . Since 12 May 1977 , it is a Class I municipality.

According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 14.00 sq. km. And its population was 58,645.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include street lighting , water supply, sewerage and arrangements for the cleanliness of the town and disposal of town refuse. The committee maintains a library-cum- reading room in which 5,500 books, 50 daily newspapers and 35 magazines are being subscribed. The Town is adequeately electrified and fire fighting service is available. It was provided 5,003 sewerage connections and 5,248 water connections in the town. It has also provided 1,800 tube points and 50 mercury lamp points in the town. Besides, the committee has constructed a modern bus stand and two bus stops at the patiala road. It also maintains a number of parks in the town. The municipality has provided 314 stand posts in the town. Besides, it maintains 99 km of roads in the town.

Samana Municipality

A Small Town Committee was first constituted at Samana in 1939. A Tahsildar was appointed as President of the committee. During 1955, it was converted into a Class II municipality.

According to the 1981 census , the area of the town within the municipal limits was 5.50 sq.km,. and its population was 31,282.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include street lighting ,water supply , hand-pumps , paving of streets culverts,stand posts, roads,drains, children parks, library, cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse .It also maintains 13 km of metalled roads in the town.

Sanur Municipality

A Small Town Committee was first constituted at Sanur in 1945. In 1955 , it was converted into a Class III municipality.

According to the 1981 Census, the area of the town within the municipal limits was 5.18 sq. km. And its population was 13,031.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include drainage, water supply , parks street lighting , cleanliness of the town and disposal of refuse . It maintains 2 km of metalled roads.

Sirhind Municipality

A Small Town Committee was first constituted at Sirhind a little before 1947 . Later on, it was converted into a Class II municipality.

According to the 1981 Census , the area of the town within the municipal limits was 11.50 sq.km. and its population was 30,380.

The civic amenities provided by the municipality include cleanliness of the town, street lighting , drainage, and disposal of refuse . The municipality has also installed 796 light points and 145 temporary tube light points in the town . Besides , it maintains 12 km of metalled roads in the town.

The office of the Divisional town Planner, Patiala Division ,. Patiala , was first set up on 1 April 1967 at Chandigarh which was later on shifted to Patiala on 24 April 1967. Besides the Patiala District, the jurisdiction of this office also extends to the Rupnagar District. This office is the Government agency for any type of physical planning work within its jurisdiction and takes care of municipal committees, notified area committees and improvement trusts, besides planning works of housing and urban development department. n and Country Planning and Housing

The activities of this division include the preparation of Master Plans for various towns, development plan of controlled areas, preparation of layout plans and schemes of improvement trusts and preparation of urban development of State/Central Government and local bodies on matters relating to location of sites of various projects , road alignments, grain markets , hospital , colleges, schools ,residential colonies, industrial areas , etc.

This office has prepared the Master Plans of Patiala , Rajpura , Fatehgarh Sahib, Sirhind , Nabha and Gobindgarh to control the growth of the towns in a planned manner.

This office has also taken up 46 town planning schemes covering about 2,717 acres of land in the Patiala District . In addition , 10 development schemes have also been taken up by this office . The plans for various industrial focal Points ,industrial estates, urban estates and road improvement have also been prepared by this office.

Improvement Trusts

An improvement trust is a statutorily body constituted for the development of a city. It generally acquires plots to the general public including weaker sections of the society. The main functions of an improvement trust include clearance of slums ,provision of water supply, sewerage and street light, widening of existing roads and roundabouts, beautification of the city and provision of open space for parks, schools and construction of markets and residential colonies and orderly expansion of the town.

The members of the improvement trust are appointed by the State Government from amongst the public, besides a few ex-officio members. The term of office of a member of an improvement trust is 3 years.

The sources of income of an improvement trust are: auction of commercial plots, muncipal contribution, Government grants , trust property nazool property, fees, investments etc.

The following improvement trusts are functioning in Patiala District:-

The sources of income of an improvement trust are: auction of commercial plots, muncipal contribution, Government grants , trust property nazool property, fees, investments etc.

The following improvement trusts are functioning in Patiala District:-

Nabha Improvement Trust, Nabha.--- It was formed on 29 December 1983 . The trust had 7 members as on 31 March 1989.

The Improvement Trust , Nabha has prepared 7 schemes for the beautification /development of the town. Out of these ,2 short-term schemes , viz. Sarai Shadiat, Dolladi Gate, Nabha and old Grain Market ,Civil Hospital Road, Nabha were sanctioned on 31 March 1986 under the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922.

The income and expenditure of the Improvement Trust, Nabha , as on 31 March 1989 were Rs. 13,00,000 and 77,000 , respectively.

Rajpura Improvement Trust, Rajpura.- The Rajpura Improvement Trust , Rajpura was formed in January 1984 . Its income and expenditure, as on 31 March 1989 were Rs 4,69,000 and 90,000, respectively.

Patiala Improvement Trust, Patiala .—The Patiala Improvement Trust , patiala , was formed on 28 February 1973. It had 7 members on 31 March 1989.

The Improvement Trust, Patiala has taken up 5 schemes for development of the town. All these schemes have been sanctioned by the Government . These are: Gurudwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib, Chhoti Baradari, Sai Market, Development Scheme for Truck Stand and Shaheed Sewa Singh Thikriwala Nagar at Patiala. Some of these schemes are nearing completion.

The income and expenditure of the Improvement trust,Patiala , as on 31 March 1989 , were Rs 52,60,000 and 52,80,000, respectively.

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