Following the state Cabinet's decision to scrap the MiC system last week, a bill to amend the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Act will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly on April 16.

According to the bill, the mayor will be conferred statutory powers that will make it mandatory on the municipal commissioner to consult him/her while taking crucial financial decisions. Hence, though the mayor will still be denied independent financial and executive powers, the city's first citizen will not be a mere ornamental head as per the the earlier system.

Under the earlier dispensation, the commissioner was permitted to sanction projects up to Rs 3 lakh while the mayor was relegated to merely presiding over the corporation'smeetings. However, when the MiC was introduced in April 1998, though the commissioner's financial powers were enhanced his authority was simultaneously undermined due to the presence of the all-powerful 12 MiC members.

Hence, though the commissioner was empowered to sanction projects up to Rs 10 lakh from the earlier Rs 3 lakh, it was the MiC, including the mayor, that was vested with decision-making. Now, though the mayor will still be denied independent financial powers, he/she can act as a counterbalancing force vis-a-vis the commissioner.

As per the bill, the state government has proposed that to sanction projects between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh, the commissioner will take a decision in consultation with the mayor. Projects above Rs 20 lakh will be referred to the civic Standing Committee.

Second, in the event of a natural calamity or floods, the commissioner will be empowered to take relief measures, but again, in consultation with the mayor. Third, the mayor will no longer be an ornamental head.Instead, he/she will be one of the statutory authorities of the corporation along with the commissioner and the heads of the statutory committees.

On the tender system, it has been proposed that the Standing Committee or the statutory committee concerned will have to take a decision within 45 days. If it fails to do so, a decision will be taken by the deeming provision. In the event of a dispute between the mayor and the commissioner, the matter will be referred to the state government,'' according to a senior state government official.

An identical bill to scrap the MiC system in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation will also be introduced on April 16.