Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) is the municipal corporation of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, and is the chief nodal agency for the administration of the city. Municipal Corporation mechanism in India was introduced during British Rule with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1762. Shimla Municipal Corporation is headed by the Mayor of city and governed by a Commissioner. Shimla Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.
Overview Established in 1851, the Shimla Municipal Corporation is an elected body comprising 41 councillors, five of whom are nominated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The number of wards increased from 28 to 34 in 2017 and then in 2022, 7 more wards were proposed to be added. The nominations are based on prominence in the fields of social service, academics and other activities. Fifty per cent of seats are reserved for women. The elections take place every five years and the mayor and deputy mayor are elected by and amongst the councillors themselves. Surinder Chauhan and Uma Kaushal of INC are the present Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively. The two major political parties are the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress. Communist Party of India (Marxist) has been nearing extinction with just 1 member in current corporation. The administrative head of the corporation is the Municipal Commissioner who is appointed by the state government. Raipur Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.
Revenue sources The following are the Income sources for the corporation from the Central and State Government.
Revenue from taxes Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Property tax. Profession tax. Entertainment tax. Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax. Advertisement tax.
Revenue from non-tax sources Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
Water usage charges. Fees from Documentation services. Rent received from municipal property. Funds from municipal bonds.
List of wards and Elected Councillors In 2022, a delimitation exercise initially proposed expanding the Shimla Municipal Corporation to 41 wards. However, an ordinance passed in January 2023 reverted the number of wards back to 34 ahead of the May 2023 municipal elections.
The corporation currently comprises 34 elected councillors and 5 councillors nominated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. In the 2023 elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) secured a majority by winning 24 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 9 seats, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 1 seat.
+ Shimla Municipal Corporation Wards (2023) Ward No. Ward Name Assembly Constituency Councillor Name Political Party 01 Bharari Shimla Urban Smt. Meena Chauhan BJP 02 Ruldu Bhatta Shimla Urban Smt. Saroj Thakur BJP 03 Kaithu Shimla Urban Smt. Kanta Suyal INC 04 Annadale Shimla Urban Smt. Urmila Kashyap INC 05 Summer Hill Shimla Rural Sh. Virender Thakur CPI(M) 06 Totu Shimla Rural Smt. Monika Bhardwaj INC 07 Majhat Shimla Rural Smt. Anita Sharma INC 08 Boileauganj Shimla Rural Sh. Daleep Thapa INC 09 Kachighati Shimla Urban Smt. Kiran Sharma INC 10 Tutikandi Shimla Urban Smt. Uma Kaushal INC 11 Nabha Shimla Urban Smt. Simi Nanda INC 12 Phagli Shimla Urban Sh. Kalyan Dhiman BJP 13 Krishna Nagar Shimla Urban Sh. Bittu Kumar BJP 14 Ram Bazar Ganj Shimla Urban Smt. Sushma Kuthiala INC 15 Lower Bazaar Shimla Urban Smt. Umang Banga INC 16 Jakhu Shimla Urban Sh. Atul Gautam INC 17 Benmore Shimla Urban K. Sheenam Kataria INC 18 Engine Ghar Shimla Urban Sh. Ankush Verma INC 19 Sanjauli Chowk Shimla Urban Smt. Mamta Chandel INC 20 Upper Dhalli Kasumpti Smt. Kamlesh Mehta BJP 21 Lower Dhalli Kasumpti Smt. Vishakha Modi INC 22 Shanti Vihar Kasumpti Sh. Vineet Sharma INC 23 Bhattakufar Kasumpti Sh. Narinder Thakur INC 24 Sangti Kasumpti Sh. Kuldeep Thakur INC 25 Malyana Kasumpti Smt. Shanta Verma INC 26 Panthaghati Kasumpti Smt. Kushum Thakur BJP 27 Kasumpati Kasumpti Smt Rachana Sharma BJP 28 Chotta Shimla Kasumpti Sh. Surinder Chauhan (Mayor) INC 29 Vikasnagar Kasumpti Smt. Rachana Bhardwaj INC 30 Kangnadhar Kasumpti Sh. Ram Rattan INC 31 Pateog Kasumpti Smt. Asha Sharma INC 32 New Shimla Kasumpti Smt. Nisha Thakur BJP 33 Khalini Kasumpti Sh. Chaman Prakash INC 34 Kanlog Kasumpti Sh. Alok Pathania BJP
Nominated Councillors The Government of Himachal Pradesh nominates 5 councillors to the corporation based on their prominence in fields like social service and academics. Sh. Ashwani Kumar Sood Sh. Gopal Sharma Smt. Gitanjali Bhagra Sh. Vinod Kumar Bhatia Sh. Raj Kumar Sharma
Corporation elections Election 2017
Election 2023
See also List of municipal corporations in India
References