Gujarat Urban Development merges 10 nagarpalikas

Gandhinagar, July 20 (UNI) In the massive civic administrative expansions Gujarat Urban Development Ministry today merged as many as ten Nagarpalikas (municipalities) and 30 gram panchayats into Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Similarly, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) engulfed as many as 27 panchayats as to expand its limit, Gujarat Urban Development Minister I K Jadeja and Gujarat Energy Minister Saurash Patel said.

Talking to reporters here in a joint press conference, they said, while one Nagarpalika has also been merged into Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC).

They said, with these new expansions of civic administrations the smaller and medium size towns will get modern facilities and developmental opportunities.

The Minister said, ''Ten nagarpalikas - Vejalpur, Memnagar, Chandlodia, Sharkhej-Okaf, Kali, Jodhpur, Ghatlodia, Vastral, Ranip and Ramol - have been merged into the AMC. Beside these surroundings 30 panchayats have also been included into AMC limit.

The ministers said, the new tax tarrif as per Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act (BPMCA) will come into effect in newer areas only after the completion of their administrative merging procedures.

However, the property tax will remain unchanged if it is not more than AMC tarrif. But, if it is getting higher than existing limit, new taxes will be recovered into four installments of 25 per cent each per year between 2006-07 and 2009-10.

The orders for the transfer of administration powers and inclusion into town planning schemes in newer areas will be issued soon, the duo added.

According to 2001-census, with inclusion of newer areas the population of AMC and SMC will be 44.32 and 36.47 lakh, respectively. The number of muncipalities in Gujarat has reduced from 172 to 161, the ministers added.

UNI MP MJ RP DB2059