The Administrative Council which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu accorded sanction to the upgradation of all Municipal Committees at district headquarters and those with population more than 30,000 as per 2011 Census in addition to the existing Municipal Councils of Kathua, Udhampur, Poonch, Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore to Municipal Councils, after following due process.
The upgraded Municipal Councils include Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, Budgam, Bandipora, Kupwara, Reasi, Doda, Samba, Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri.
The Administrative Council also accorded sanction to the upgradation of 13 posts of Executive Officers to Chief Executive Officers in the upgraded Municipal Councils besides creation of 19 posts of Accounts Officers in the existing and proposed Municipal Councils.
The upgraded posts of Chief Executive Officers will be filled up initially by deputation from officers of the Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service of equivalent rank/ scale, whereas the posts of Accounts Officers will be filled by deputation from officers of the J&K Accounts (Gazetted) Service.
The decision will strengthen ULBs by increasing their human resource capacities and shall streamline the cadre management. This will help effective handling of process of conceptualization/planning of developing activities and their timely execution besides enabling these bodies perform emerging roles viz social development, social justice, urban poverty alleviation etc.