Chapter II CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COMMITTEE

1. (1) There shall be constituted a Metropolitan Planning Committee for every Metropolitan area consisting of forty-five members as provided under sub-section (2) to prepare a draft development plan for the Metropolitan area as a whole.
2. (2) Every Metropolitan Planning Committee shall consist of the following members, namely :- I. Ex officio Members-
   • (a) Principal Secretary or Secretary to Government, Urban Development Department;
   • (b) Divisional Commissioner of the concerned Revenue Division. II. Nominated Members-
   • (a) A person nominated by the State Government as the Chairperson;
   • (b) Six members nominated by the State Government from amongst the Municipal Commissioners, Chief Officers of the Municipal Councils, the Chief Executive Officers of the Special Planning Authorities or New Town Development Authorities constituted under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 (Mah. XXXVII of 1966), and members of any other local authority, operating in the Metropolitan area;
   • (c) Two members nominated by the State Government from amongst the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Members of the Legislative Council, elected from the Metropolitan area;
   • (d) Four members nominated by the State Government who have experience and expertise in urban development, urban infrastructure, finance, urban transport, environment, industry and trade and urban community development. III. Elected Members-
   • (a) Of the total number of members of the Metropolitan Planning Committee not less than two-thirds shall be elected by, and from amongst, the elected members of the Municipalities and Chairpersons of the Panchayats in the Metropolitan area in proportion to the ratio between the population of the Municipalities and of the Panchayats in that area;
   • (b) Members to be elected under clause (a) to the Metropolitan Planning Committee shall be elected by single transferable vote from amongst the voters in the electoral college earmarked, for the purpose;
   • (c) The election of members shall be conducted in accordance with the system specified in clause (b), by such authority or officer and in such manner as may be prescribed;
   • (d) If the validity of any election of a member of the Metropolitan Planning Committee is brought in question by any other member qualified to vote at the election to which such question refers, it may be decided by such authority within such period and, after following such procedure, as may be prescribed. IV. Special invitees- The following shall be special permanent invitees at all the meetings of the Metropolitan Planning Committee and shall have a right to take part in the deliberations of the meetings of the Committee,-
   • (a) Five persons to be appointed by the State Government from amongst the Members of Parliament and the Members of the Maharashtra State Legislature, elected from, or ordinarily resident of, the Metropolitan area;
   • (b) Chief Executive Officers of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation;
   • (c) Director of Town Planning or the Deputy Director of Town Planning of the respective region;
   • (d) Representatives of Government of India organisations such as Railways, Telephones or Port Trusts, as the case may be.
3. (3) An officer of the rank not below the rank of Deputy Secretary to Government to be nominated by the State Government as the Secretary of the Metropolitan Planning Committee.
4. (4) In the absence of the Chairperson at any meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, the members may elect the Chairperson from amongst themselves to preside over the meeting.

1. (1) The term of office of the nominated members shall be such as may be specified by the State Government while nominating them on the Metropolitan Planning Committee.
2. (2) The term of office of the elected members shall be co-terminus with their tenure in the respective local authority.
3. (3) Any nominated or elected member may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the State Government. The resignation shall be effective from the date of its receipt by the Government.
4. (4) Any casual vacancy arising out of such resignation or for any other reason such as death or disability of a member shall be filled as early as possible by nomination or election, as the case may be: Provided that, the member so nominated or elected shall hold office for the remainder of the term for which the member in whose place he is nominated or elected, would have held office.

The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, remove from office a member of the Metropolitan Planning Committee,-

1. (a) if he has any pecuniary interest in the schemes or works included in the plans and schemes prepared by the Municipalities or Panchayats in the Metropolitan area;
2. (b) if he is convicted for an offence involving moral turpitude punishable under the provisions of any law for the time being in force; or
3. (c) if he, upon the trial of election petition, is found guilty of corrupt practices.

The procedure to be followed in discharge of the functions by the Metropolitan Planning Committee shall be such as may be prescribed.

No act or proceeding of the Metropolitan Planning Committee shall be invalid by reason only of vacancy therein, or any defect in election or nomination of any member, if such act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The Chairperson and other members of the Metropolitan Planning Committee shall receive such allowances as may be fixed by the State Government, from time to time.

Functions of the Metropolitan Planning Committee shall be as follows :-

1. (a) to prepare a draft development plan for the Metropolitan area having regard to the plans prepared by the Municipalities and Panchayats in the Metropolitan area;
2. (b) to ensure the compliance of the provisions of clause (3) of article 243-ZE;
3. (c) to recommend through the Chairperson of Metropolitan Planning Committee the approved draft development plan to the State Government.