The term Mirik municipal administration is a misnomer as the civic body is yet to be granted full-fledged municipality status and is just recognised as a Notified Area Authority.
The quasi-municipality does not have even a small parcel of land registered under its name as necessary official criteria have not been met. Established in 1995, the Mirik Notified Area Authority has not been granted the full-fledged status of a municipality as the population is inadequate to fulfill one of the prerequisites.
When this correspondent enquired with Mirik town administration president Mala Subba, she said population is an important criterion. At the same time, she said that as the topography of the hills is quite different compared to that of the plains, the government should allow some relaxations regarding the population factor. Subba added the town administration has already dispatched letters to the municipal affairs department, the chief minister and local MLAs and MP.
“According to official criteria, any given municipal area must have a minimum population of 30,000, but the Mirik notified area only has about 14,000 people. Considering the topographical aspect, there should be some relaxation and the government must consider it,” observed Subba.
Regarding the issue of land, Subba said once the Land Reform Department demarcates the land, the MNAA will get its own area of jurisdiction.
The town head further said, “Mirik has the smallest civic body in the state. All that was required and possible from our side has been done. Now it depends on whether the government is willing to convert Mirik into a full-fledged municipality or not.”
Owing to the fact that it is not yet a full-fledged municipality, the Mirik town administration does not receive as many benefits and government assistance as a full-fledged municipality body does.
Source:EOI
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| Mirik Municipal office. |
When this correspondent enquired with Mirik town administration president Mala Subba, she said population is an important criterion. At the same time, she said that as the topography of the hills is quite different compared to that of the plains, the government should allow some relaxations regarding the population factor. Subba added the town administration has already dispatched letters to the municipal affairs department, the chief minister and local MLAs and MP.
“According to official criteria, any given municipal area must have a minimum population of 30,000, but the Mirik notified area only has about 14,000 people. Considering the topographical aspect, there should be some relaxation and the government must consider it,” observed Subba.
Regarding the issue of land, Subba said once the Land Reform Department demarcates the land, the MNAA will get its own area of jurisdiction.
The town head further said, “Mirik has the smallest civic body in the state. All that was required and possible from our side has been done. Now it depends on whether the government is willing to convert Mirik into a full-fledged municipality or not.”
Owing to the fact that it is not yet a full-fledged municipality, the Mirik town administration does not receive as many benefits and government assistance as a full-fledged municipality body does.
Source:EOI
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