Question: Which state has become the 6th state to complete urban local body reform?
a) Goa
b) MP
c) Rajasthan
d) Telangana
Ans: a
Context
- Goa has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
- Joins five other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan and Telangana, who have completed ULB reforms.
Facts
- After completing the reforms stipulated by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance State become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs. 223 crore through Open Market Borrowings.
- This reforms are aimed aimed at financial strenghtening of ULBs in the States and to enable them to provide better public health and sanitation services to citizens.
- Better financial health of ULBs will also let them create good civic infrastructure.
Reforms
- The set of reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure are:
- The State will notify:
- Floor rates of property tax in ULBs which are in consonance with the prevailing circle rates (i.e. guideline rates for property transactions) and;
- Floor rates of user charges in respect of the provision of water-supply, drainage and sewerage which reflect current costs/past inflation.
- The State will put in place a system of periodic increase in floor rates of property tax/ user charges in line with price increases.
- Besides, the centre had identified four citizen centric areas for reforms. They are:
- Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System
- Ease of doing business reform
- Urban Local body/ utility reforms
- Power Sector reforms.
By kameshwar shukla