Will Arunachal Pradesh Enact a Law to Manage Chaotic Urbanization?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Approval of draft bill to regulate urban growth in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Establishment of 47 notified urban centers in the state.
- Introduction of Property Tax to enhance municipal revenue.
- Shift towards digital governance with paperless Cabinet meetings.
- Focus on sustainable urban development and planning interventions.
Itanagar, Sep 8 (NationPress) The Cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh convened on Monday and sanctioned a draft legislation aimed at regulating the disorderly expansion of urban development, as reported by officials.
During a meeting led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Cabinet greenlighted the introduction of the Draft Arunachal Pradesh Urban and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which will be presented in the upcoming session of the state Assembly.
According to discussions from the cabinet meeting, Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed significant urbanization recently, with 47 designated urban centers.
He emphasized that planning interventions are crucial to manage uncontrolled growth and development. Given the state's vast geographical expanse and the accessibility of urban towns, these measures are essential for fulfilling the government's vision and objectives.
The proposed bill aims to tackle these pressing issues, the official stated.
Additionally, the Cabinet has endorsed the “Arunachal Pradesh Municipal Property Tax Management Rule, 2025”, crafted by the Directorate of Town Planning under the Department of Urban Affairs. The Property Tax will be initially implemented across all municipal areas within the state.
As per the official, the state government is committed to enhancing the Urban Local Bodies by adopting decentralized urban governance measures, thereby empowering them to achieve sustainable growth, bolster urban infrastructure, and increase the fiscal independence of ULBs.
Consequently, the implementation of Property Tax in urban areas, particularly within the established municipalities of Arunachal Pradesh, will facilitate revenue generation for municipalities, making them self-sufficient, or as the official put it, Atmanirbhar Municipality.
In another notable advancement towards digital governance and environmental stewardship, the government of Arunachal Pradesh, under Chief Minister Khandu, conducted a fully paperless Cabinet meeting, termed “Cabinet Aapke Dwar”, in Ziro of Lower Subansiri district on Monday.
This session utilized the e-Cabinet Application, marking a significant transition in governance practices, occurring for the first time outside the state capital, Itanagar.