In order to explore the history of modern Calcutta (Kolkata), we walk down memory lane to the time when the British leased three villages of Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kolikata from the Roychowdhuri’s of Barisha.

It all started with a couple of mud huts which graduated to some pucca houses and a modest fort for protection. The city was once described as a "pestilential city" with unmetalled roads, open drains, no lighting, contaminated water and high mortality rate.

There was no civic or municipal authority until 1726, when a Mayor’s Court with judicial functions was established by a Royal Charter. In order to attract people to come and live in the city, some civic work was soon undertaken.

Years later, in 1765, the East India Company bagged the Diwani of Bengal. This meant that the Company now had the judicial rights to collect revenue from the province. As a result, the Company was under an obligation to provide civic amenities to the people.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation

8 years later, when Calcutta was made the capital of British India in 1773, the demand for better living conditions soon gained momentum. Thus an imprecise conservancy system and an inadequate police force came into being. The city’s governance was bestowed upon the Collector.

In 1794, there was a shift in the municipal administration. The Collector handed over responsibilities to the Justices of the Peace for the Town which comprised of the Governor General, the members of his Council and the Judges of the Supreme Court. The Justices imposed tax on houses and fees on liquor sale to raise money for civic maintenance.

In 1819, the total amount raised from such collection was more than Rs 2.5 lakhs. At about the same time, The Governor Generals tried to raise funds by running lotteries. The money so collected was used to build new roads, improve the condition of existing roads, dig tanks and to construct a new Town Hall.

From mid 19th Century, the British realised that the city needed specialised crisis management to cope with civic developments. Hence, a Municipal Corporation for Calcutta – “the second city” of the British Empire - was being considered so that the city enjoyed better infrastructure and management systems to deal with its own problems.

In 1847, the electoral system was introduced and the Justices were replaced by a Board of 7 paid members, the majority of whom were elected by tax payers. The Board was granted the authority to purchase and maintain property for the improvement of the city, to maintain roads and drains.

After 5 years, in 1852, the Board was replaced by a new committee of 4 members. Members were elected and the other 2 were appointed by the Government. Taxes were levied on lighting, housing, vehicular traffic and horses.

In 1863, a new civic governing body was constituted with an elected Vice Chairman, and appointed Health Officer, Surveyor, Engineer, Tax Collector and Assessor. It was during this period that there was a marked improvement in water supply and drainage in the city. Footpaths were built along the main roads and house taxes were increased to a maximum 10%.

The Municipal Slaughter House was established in 1866 and the New Market in 1874. Thereafter, in 1876, a new Corporation house was established with 72 Commissioners – 24 appointed by the Government and the rest elected by rate payers.

Changes continued uninterrupted till 1899. The 2 railway terminals, Howrah and Sealdah were connected by Harrison Road at this time. Rashtraguru Surendranath Banerjee was the first Minister of Local Self Government in Bengal.

By the Act of 1923, he sponsored a number of changes as the Act relaxed the control of the Government on the Local governing body. Greater Calcutta was formed which included Maniktala, Cossipur, Chitpur and Garden Reach, as well as the New Dock Extension area. The road on which the Central Corporation office was located was named after Surendranath by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation as a mark of respect.

In 1924, Chittaranjan Das was elected as the first Indian Mayor of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. The Emblem of the Corporation representing two Adjutant Birds holding in their beaks serpents and carrying a Crown on their shoulders came into existence in 1896. But the new Emblem symbolizing the new aspirations of the city was adopted on 22nd February, 1961.

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act 1980, which came into force in January 1984, extended the boundaries of Calcutta by including the Municipalities of South Suburban, Garden Reach and Jadavpur. The number of Wards of the Corporation was increased from 100 to 141 and the provisions relating to Bustees were modified. The new Act was aimed at making the Corporation more efficient and effective.

Apart from these, major amendments were introduced in 1984 to do away with the procedural difficulties involving assessment and valuation of lands and buildings, tax recovery, etc. A “Mayor-in-Council” was introduced with the characteristics of Cabinet form of Government which promised to revolutionise Municipal administration.

The change in the Municipal Authority restructured the Municipal Governing body as:

a) The Corporation
b) The Mayor-in-Council, and
c) The Mayor.

The Corporation is the apex body which discharges its function through the Mayor-in-Council. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and 10 other elected members of the CMC make up the Mayor-in-Council. There are 141 Councillors elected from their respective wards. The Mayor and the Chairman, elected by the members, hold office for 5 years.

Each ward is grouped into Boroughs which have their own Committee comprising of Councillors elected from the respective wards of the Borough. The Borough Committee, with its own Chairperson, is subject to the general supervision of the Mayor-in-Council. These Committes look after water supply, drainage, disinfection and health immunisation, collection and removal of solid waste, bustee services, lighting and maintenance of certain types of roads, parks, drains and gullies.

The Act of 1980 framed the modern structure of the Corporation with the Mayor as the Chief Executive Officer. The Municipal Commissioner is the Principal Executive Officer controlled and supervised by the Mayor. Senior Civil Officers like Deputy Municipal Commissioners, Joint Municipal Commissioners, Controller of Municipal Finance and Accounts, Chief Engineers, Chief Municipal Auditor and Municipal Secretary assist the Mayor.

Provisions for adequate and appropriate representation of all elements of society were made by the 74th Constitutional Amendment, 1992. Reservations for the scheduled castes and tribes and for women were thus introduced. The CMC was also endowed with the power to plan for economic and social developments by the State Legislatures. The CMC was henceforth responsible for social, cultural, educational improvements that would enhance the aesthetic aspects of the life of the city’s citizens. The city was renamed to Kolkata in 2001, and as a result the Calcutta Corporation came to be known as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

The KMC also has a Toll Free Number in order to address all public grievances: 1 800 33 33 75

Related External Link:
Official Website of Kolkata Municipal Corporation