Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai
About
Mumbai Corporation building is a 255 feet tall
Gothic architecture building, which was completed
in 1893.
History
The Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) was created
in 1865, with Arthur Crawford appointed as the
first municipal commissioner of Bombay for five
years. Within a year, the Corporation had run
up a debt of Rs. 140,000 and this lack of financial
responsibility continued, until, in 1871, the
net deficit stood at Rs. 3,770,000. Concerned
citizens, led by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, drafted
and supported a Municipal Act, which was passed
in 1872. The Act provided for a Municipal Corporation
and a Town Council. Half the members of the
BMC and three quarters of the members of the
Council were to be elected by the people. The
rest were to be government appointees. The BMC
was instrumental in the development of Mahim
in 1913, the expansion of the capacity of the
Tansa lake in 1916 and 1921, as well as the
acquiring of agricultural land around the Vihar
lake in 1923 as a sanitary safeguard. During
the freedom movement, nationalists who took
a consistently anti-government stand infiltrated
the BMC. In 1933 the City Improvement Trust
was merged with the BMC. Corporation Duties
The duties of this Corporation are set out in
the Mumbai Municipal Act, first passed in 1872,
and amended on various later occasions. It is
responsible for Greater Mumbai. The BMRDA coordinates
between the BMC and CIDCO. The Municipal Corporation
is responsible for sanitation and health. In
this connection it manages garbage collection,
sewerage, public hospitals and the water supply.
It is also responsible for setting up and enforcing
building norms and for maintaining and repairing
roads.
Organization
The city is divided into several municipal wards.
Each ward elects a Corporator once every five
years and they in turn elect the mayor of Mumbai
annually. The chief minister of the state nominates
a sherrif every year. The state government can
overrule any decision taken by the Corporation.
Viceroy, Lord Ripon laid the foundation stone
for the offices of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation
on December 9, 1884. The Gothic design by F.
W. Stevens was selected over the Indo-Saracenic
design submitted by R. F. Chisholm. It was completed
in 1893, and the building has a 255 feet tall
tower.
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