CURE Bill raises taxes and snatches powers of elected representatives: MLA
Malkajgiri MLA Marri Rajasekhar Reddy submitted a representation to Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the government, raising serious objections to several provisions of the
Malkajgiri MLA Marri Rajasekhar Reddy submitted a representation to Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the government, raising serious objections to several provisions of the proposed Core Urban Regional Economy Area (CURE) Bill, 2026 and urging the government to comprehensively review the draft before its enactment. In his representation, the MLA stated that the Bill in its present form weakens democratic local self-government and is inconsistent with the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which guarantees greater autonomy and decentralisation to Urban Local Bodies.
He said the proposed Apex Council and government are vested with overriding powers, reducing the role of elected Municipal Corporations. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Standing Committee are left with very limited authority, undermining democratic governance. Athough Ward Committees are mentioned in the Bill, there is no statutory requirement to establish functional Ward Committees with clearly defined powers and financial authority in every ward.
This weakens citizen participation and grassroots governance. He said the Bill enables periodic revision of water supply and sewerage user charges, which could result in automatic annual increases, placing an additional financial burden on urban households. The proposal to levy property tax based on Capital Value may substantially increase the tax burden on homeowners, particularly middle-class families, senior citizens and fixed-income households.
The provisions empowering the government to suspend resolutions, issue binding directions and dissolve or supersede Municipal Corporations erode the autonomy of democratically elected local bodies and dilute the concept of local self-government.
The BriefWire