Introduction

Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) was established on 15th September 1979 vide. Government  Notification No. 1406 by merging erstwhile Ranchi Municipality, Doranda Municipality and Ranchi Doranda Joint Water Board. It is the second Municipal Corporation of erstwhile Bihar and the first Corporation in the state of Jharkhand. With 55 administrative Wards, the corporation’s jurisdiction extends over an area of 175.12 sq. 

RMC is governed by the Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) has delegated the primary responsibility for urban management to urban local bodies / Governments. Unfortunately, the devolution of    powers to ULBs has been very protracted. Like many other ULBs, there has been no real devolution of powers and functions to the RMC.

The main functions of the RMC as defined under Section 70 Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011 are :-

(A) Core Functions

(i) Urban planning including town planning,

(ii) Regulation of land-use including protection of public land from encroachment and construction of buildings,

(iii) Planning for economic and social development,

(iv) Roads including footpath and road crossing facilities for pedestrians and bridges,

(v) Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes,

(vi) Public health, sanitation including storm water drains, conservancy and solid and liquid waste management,

(vii) Fire services,

(viii) Urban forestry, protection of the environment, promotion of ecological aspects and maintenance of environmental hygiene,

(ix) Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded,

(x) Slum improvement and upgradation including providing basic facilities,

(xi) Urban poverty alleviation,

(xii) Provision and maintenance of urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, playgrounds, public markets, bathing and washing ghats, waiting sheds for travelers,

(xiii) Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects,

(xiv) Establishment and maintenance of burial and burning grounds, cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums,

(xv) Cattle pounds, prevention of cruelty to animals,

(xvi) Collection and updating of vital statistics including registration of births, deaths and marriages,

(xvii) Provision and maintenance of public amenities including street lighting, parking spaces for vehicles, bus stops and public conveniences like toilet facilities at public places,

(xviii) Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries and sale of meat, fish and other perishable food stuffs etc.

(B) General Functions

(i) Organising voluntary workers and promote community participation in all development activities,

(ii) Organise campaign for thrift,

(iii) Awareness building against social evils like alcoholism, consumption of narcotics, dowry and abuse of women and children,

(iv) Organize legal awareness campaigns among weaker sections, campaign against economic offences, adherence to civic duties, and promoting communal harmony,

(v) Provision of public transport,

(vi) Organise relief activities during natural calamities and maintain relief centres like hospitals, dispensaries, asylums, rescue homes, maternity houses and child welfare centres, etc.,

(vii) Mobilising local resources in cash or in kind,

(viii) Organise and promote resident welfare associations, neighbourhood groups and committees, and self-help groups with focus on the poor,

(ix) Disclosure and dissemination of information of public interest,

(x) Maintenance of public properties,

(xi) Issue of licences to dangerous and offensive trades and industries,

(xii) Issue of licence to domestic pet animals and destruction of stray dogs,

(xiii) Conservation and preservation of water bodies,

(xiv) Conservation and preservation of places and buildings of historical and cultural importance,

(xv) Promoting energy efficiency and build awareness on climate change,

(xvi) Promote introduction of Information Technology and e-Governance in the working of the Municipality.

(C) Sector-wise functions:

(i) Urban Planning including Town Planning

   (a) Planned development of new areas for human settlement, erection and 

    maintenance of boundary marks defining the limits or any alteration in the 

    limits,

   (b) Measures for beautification of the municipal area by setting up fountains, 

    providing recreational areas, improving river banks, and landscaping,

   (c) Integration of the development plans and schemes of the municipal area with 

    the district or regional development plan,

    (d) Preparation and keeping upto date of appropriate maps, data and records of 

    lands within municipality and utility to which such lands are from time to time 

    put;

(ii) Environment and Social Forestry:

    (a) Organise campaign for environmental awareness,

    (b) Motivating local action for its upgradation, planting of trees, etc.,

    (c) Reclamation of waste lands, promotion of social forestry and maintenance of 

    open spaces,

    (d) Establishment and maintenance of nurseries, promotion of greenery;

(iii) Small Scale Industries:

    (a) Promotion of handicrafts,

    (b) Formulate and implement self-employment schemes in industrial sector,

    (c) Implementation of the entrepreneur development programmes;

(iv) Housing:

    (a) Identify the homeless, provision of house sites and houses, implementation 

    of shelter rejuvenation programmes,

    (b) Mobilise fund necessary for housing;

(v) Public Works:

     (a) Construct and maintain the roads except National Highways, State Highways 

    and major District roads within the municipality, and buildings for institutions 

    including those transferred from Government.

(vi) Public Health and Sanitation:

    (a) Run dispensaries, primary & public health centres and hospitals under all 

    systems of medicines, child welfare centres and mother care homes,

    (b) Organise remedial and other preventive measures against disease,

    (c) Implement family welfare programmes,

    (d) Organise mass inoculation campaigns for eradication of infectious diseases,

    (e) Reclamation of unhealthy localities, removal of noxious vegetation and 

    abatement of all nuisances,

    (f) Maintenance of all public tanks and regulating the re-excavation, repair and 

    up-keep of all tanks, wells and other sources of water-supply and provision for 

    unfiltered water-supply for non-domestic uses,

(vii) Social Welfare:

    (a) Implementation of programmes for liberation and rehabilitation of scavengers 

    and their families,

    (b) Securing or removal of dangerous buildings and places, obstructions and 

    projections in or upon streets, bridges and other public places;

(viii) Eradication of poverty:

    (a) Develop skills and implement self-employment and group employment schemes 

    for the poor, especially for women,

    (b) Create community assets to get continuing benefit to the poor;