AS IT adds one more chapter to its existence, in the 73rd year Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) faces challenge to fulfill the mandate of better governance of the second capital of Maharashtra.

On March 2, NMC completes 72 years of its formation as municipal corporation (earlier it was municipal council), wherein it witnessed many important events. In the 72 years, NMC was governed by 54 Mayors, 56 Deputy Mayors and 50 Municipal Commissioners who worked earnestly to establish change in the working of the corporation. Now, in 73rd year, the current set of administrators is gearing up to bring about change in mindset of the citizens, seeking behaviour change with respect to cleanliness in public places.

After the establishment of NMC on March 2, 1951, G G Desai was appointed initially as an Administrator and later as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on July 1, 1952. During Desai’s tenure (June 1951), first general election to the civic body was held. Total 42 members were elected from the 42 wards of the city.

Moreover, according to the rules then, one member was nominated to the NMC House by Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Nagpur, Nagpur University, Nagpur Improvement Trust, Nagpur Janpad Sabha, Central Railway, Eastern Railway and Cotton Mills. Later, on July 1, 1952, six additional members were co-opted by the elected Members. Finally, with 42 elected, 9 nominated and 6 co-opted members, the House was constituted. On July 20, 1952, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and 10 members of the Standing Committee were elected. Barrister Sheshrao Wankhede was the first Mayor of Nagpur city, while Chhotelal Thakkar was Deputy Mayor and Sadubhau Dandige become first Chairman of the Standing Committee. About 34 villages were merged with Nagpur Municipal Council which was upgraded to Municipal Corporation. With this the city’s boundary increased to 217.56 sq. km.

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