Imagine waking up to a house flooded with sewage-laden water but this is not new for you. Our cities are so poorly designed that they don’t even need a flood to get flooded, a simple rain can do it. This crisis, and countless others, expose a critical flaw in Indian cities: weak mayoral authority. In most Indian cities, mayors have little to no power.
Broken Systems, Broken Lives
Fragmented governance in Indian cities creates a domino effect of problems. The Chennai floods (2015) highlight this perfectly. Poor planning, clogged drains, and a sluggish response due to divided authority turned a manageable situation into a disaster in which more than 200 people died.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Mumbai’s deadly building collapse in 2020 points to the same issue: lax enforcement due to weak mayoral oversight.
Designed to fail
In most Indian cities there is no long-term planning or strategy on how the city should be developed in the next four to five years. So, problems are never fixed, they are just bodged. but Why?
The answer lies in the lack of a central leader with the power to implement comprehensive plans.
DM of a district holds the power to bring significant change, but the moment they try to do something good for society, they can be seen as stealing the limelight from the top leadership and they are simply transferred to another district. That is what happened to DM Divya Mittal, who was transferred after bringing water to Lahuria Dah for the first time in 76 years.
This will change if an elected Mayor is made the head of the city rather than a DM because an elected individual can’t be transferred.
Why not just remove the provision of transferring DMs? Only an elected member has the incentive to create a plan, convince people that the plan is good, and execute the plan when elected. DM has no incentive to do that. He can just ignore the problems and still stay in the office.
A Legacy of Control, Not Change
India’s current system has its roots in the past. British rule favored appointed officials over elected representatives. Post-independence, this structure remained, prioritizing state control. But times have changed. Our cities are growing, our needs are evolving. Don’t we deserve a say in how our communities are run?
Who Runs This City, Anyway?
Right now, the power lies not with a single leader, but a tangled web of authorities. District Magistrates (DMs), appointed by the state, hold immense power. MLAs wield influence over policies and resources. Municipal corporations struggle with red tape and conflicting mandates. This bureaucratic maze cripples progress.
Mayors Who Can Make a Difference
Look at New York City. A strong mayor with real power transformed the city. Michael Bloomberg’s leadership led to better health outcomes, safer streets, and improved schools. London’s empowered mayor tackled crucial issues like affordable housing and public transport. These are just examples. India’s cities have the potential to achieve the same.
The pattern repeats
The government of a town/city is intentionally made weak so that the state government would have more power. The same pattern repeats when it comes to the relationship between the state and the central government.
Just like DM is appointed by the State government, the Governor of the state is appointed by the central government as the representative of the Central government.
Conflicts between the Governor and State government are fairly common, especially when the central government and state government are run by different parties. Two prominent examples are the following:
Arunachal Pradesh
Governor Rajkhowa abruptly advanced the state assembly session, bypassing Chief Minister Nabam Tuki entirely. This unprecedented move is widely seen as a blatant attempt to topple the elected government. Accusations are that the Governor is colluding with a disgruntled faction within the ruling party seeking to oust Tuki, igniting a full-blown political crisis.
Delhi
The Delhi Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor have been locked in a bitter dispute over who gets to appoint the head of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. This power struggle has caused significant delays, crippling the regulator’s ability to function effectively. The Supreme Court eventually had to step in and order them to agree on a candidate.
To make matters worse, the central government introduced a controversial ordinance in May 2023 that would give the Lieutenant Governor, rather than the elected government, control over key administrative officials. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal vehemently opposed this move, claiming it was a blatant attempt to weaken the Delhi government and reduce its authority.
Roadmap to Change
Empowering India’s mayors requires a well-orchestrated strategy that tackles legislative roadblocks, streamlines administration, and builds a powerful movement for decentralized governance.
Legislative Reforms: Giving Mayors the Tools to Build
- Modernized Municipal Laws: We need reforms that grant mayors broad authority over urban planning, service delivery, and regulations.
- Direct Mayoral Elections: Mayors with a strong public mandate are more accountable and effective. Citizens should be given the power to directly elect their mayors, fostering a more responsive and democratic system.
- Fiscal Freedom: Mayors need control over their budgets. Legislation granting autonomy in revenue generation and spending will allow them to invest strategically in areas that matter most to their communities.
Administrative Restructuring: Right now, responsibilities between municipal, state, and central levels are a tangled mess. Let’s untangle this web by clearly defining roles, eliminating overlaps, and streamlining operations. This will empower mayors to act swiftly and efficiently.
Small steps to big change
Citizen Engagement: An informed public is a powerful public. When people understand the power of a strong mayor, they’ll become vocal advocates for change.
Pilot Projects: Pilot initiatives in select cities will serve as a powerful demonstration of how strong mayoral leadership drives sustainable urban development and improves the quality of life for all.
Imagine a City That Works For You
Think about directly elected mayors, accountable to the people they serve. Imagine streamlined decision-making, faster development, and swift responses to crises. Imagine cities with control over their finances, able to invest strategically in what matters most. This is the future we can create.
