The state Assembly announced last month that Mayiladuthurai Municipality, one of the oldest in the state, would be upgraded to a "special-grade municipality" from a "selection-grade municipality" in order to benefit from additional funding for infrastructure, urban, and resource development.
On March 30, when KN Nehru, the minister for municipal administration, requested funding for his division in the Assembly, he mentioned upgrading the municipality. "In our municipal council meeting, we adopted a resolution for the upgrade, and we sent a request to the government to take the necessary steps to upgrade the municipality from 'selection-grade' to 'special-grade'.
Municipality Chairman N Selvaraj stated that an order is forthcoming. The municipality, one of the earliest in the state, was founded in 1866 and has been operating as a "selection-grade municipality" since 1984. Before joining the newly created Mayiladuthurai district a few years ago, the municipality had over the years been a part of the formerly integrated Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts. The municipality, which has 36 wards and 27,000 households, generates about 220 million in income each year.
According to a 2019 order, those municipalities that generate over Rs 150 million in revenue can be upgraded into 'special-grade municipality'. Based on this, Mayiladuthurai municipality’s upgrade was proposed. Municipality Commissioner S Selva Balaji said that by becoming a 'special-grade municipality', we will receive additional funds for various means of development. They can set up a larger office for administrative functioning, and employ additional staff. The commissioner has sent the proposal to the additional chief secretary in charge of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.
Also Read
Urban challenges in the Gateway to South India
Hiranandani to invest in premium housing project in Panvel
