The committees would have the power of providing water supply, drainage, sanitation and storm water drains. They would also take the responsibility of giving administrative approval to plans costing up to Rs five lakh for civil works.

Each committee is to have a staff of 10, including the committee's executive officer, and it will be managed by the area's ward officer. Each ward will have not more than three members who will be nominated by non-political or social organisations as well as local corporators. The committees' tenure is the same as that of the corporation, five years.

A proposal to set up the committees was passed by group leaders after deliberations and at the corporation's General Body Meeting lastyear, and they were to be formed along with the new MiC in April. The MiC system has taken shape, but there is no word on the committees yet.

A fresh proposal to set up the committees was tabled before the Mayor-in-Council last month. But no budgetary provisions have been made for setting them up in this year's budget. Mayor Nandu Satam stated that the proposal is under discussion and will be passed soon. But he could not commit himself to a date.

Earlier, group leaders had demanded 21 committees for the 23 wards in the city. But the municipal commissioner had stated that more committees would translate into less work for each committee and higher expenditure. The number of committees was then slashed to 16. Council members had also reported a shortage of space in wards where members of the committee are to operate.