The Municipal Administration has long roots in our Country. It takes care of all the civic needs of the people. The Municipal Government was first introduced in the town of Madras more than 3 centuries ago. It was subsequently established in the presidency towns in Districts, authorizing them to levy taxes on houses and lands to meet the cost of scavenging, lighting, maintenance of roads etc.
 

The first municipal Enactment was ‘Improvements in Towns Act at 1850’, which authorized a system of administration by councilors in the matters of constructing, repairing, cleaning, lighting, maintaining of any public streets, roads, drains or for the prevention of nuisances are for improving the town.
 

By the ‘Towns Improvement Act 1865’, these bodies could raise funds by way of levying property tax, profession tax, vehicle tax, tolls, license fees etc., for maintaining law and order for attending to the municipal function mentioned above, plus preservation of public health. Various reforms have taken place since then . The Montagu Chelmsford report suggested that “there should be, as far as possible, complete popular control in the local bodies and largest possible independence for them of outside control”.
 

The most important Enactments governing Urban Local Bodies were passed in 1919 (Madras City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919) and in 1920 (The Madras District Municipalities Act, 1920).

In 1930, further changes were made for election of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councilors doing away with the system of nomination and also introducing reservations of seats for minority comities and for women.

There are at present 102 municipalities and 6 corporations in which more than 1.50 crores people reside. The daily floating population in these urban local bodies is roughly estimated at another 30 lakhs.

Tiruchirappalli Municipality was constituted on 08.07.1866. The Municipality was upgraded as Corporation with effect from 01.06.1994 by adding the following Municipalities, Town Panchayats and Village Panchayats:-

	Srirangam Municipality
	Golden Rock Municipality
	K-Abishekapuram Town Panchayat
	Pirattiyur Town Panchayat
	Ariyamangalam Town Panchayat
	Panayakurichi Panchayat – Existing Devathanam Village in Full
	Ukkadai Ariyamangalam Panchayat
	K.Sathanur Town Panchayat
	Pandamangalam Panchayat
	Melakalakandar Kottai Town Panchayat
	Thiruvalar Solai Panchayat
	Uyyakondan Thirumalai Panchayat
	Golden Rock Railway Workshop Colony

The Constitution's 74th Amendment, which aims at making the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as vibrant Local self Government Institutions, list out the functions to be transferred to Urban Local Bodies. The 12th schedule in the constitution has identified the following 18 functions within the domain of Urban Local Bodies.
 

	Urban planning including town planning.
	Regulation of land-use and construction of buildings.
	Planning for economic and social development.
	Roads and bridges.
	Water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purpose.
	Public health, sanitation facility and solid waste management.
	Fire services.
	Urban poverty alleviation.
	Safeguarding the interest of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded.
	Slum improvement and up-gradation.
	Urban poverty alleviation.
	Provision of urban amenities and facilities such as parks.
	Promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects.
	Burials and burial grounds; cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums.
	Cattle ponds; prevention of cruelty to animals.
	Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
	Public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences.
	Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries".

The 74th CAA provides the constitution of a State Finance Commission is a significant one. The Finance Commission will make recommendations to the Government on the functions, the local bodies should discharge, the powers to be vested with them and the devolution of resources from the Govt. to the local bodies.

The administration of the Corporation is carried out according to the Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation Act 1994. The Tiruchirappalli City Corporation Council was constituted with directly elected Mayor and 60 wards and elected Councilors represent each ward. There are 40 men Councilors and 20 women Councilors.

The Worshipful Mayor conducts council meetings, at least once in a month.

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