Population: 2.3 mil. (1995 projected) Area: 113 sq. kms. Density / Sq.km.: 20,353 persons Percentage of Slum dwellers: 40.39% Municipality setup in: 1852

Pop. covered by sanitation : 63% Pop. Covered by protected water : 60% Pop. Covered by sewerage : 30% Morbidity rate : 18% Employees : 15,000

Industries :Synthetic textiles, yarn manufacturing, diamond cutting and polishing and manufacture of gold and silver brocade. Industrial Output : Rs.9,000 crores. Tax collections: Rs.2,100 crores (federal, State, municipal)

Services Provided :Roads, water supply, sewerage, storm drains, lighting, schools, fire services, parks & gardens, Zoo, social welfare services, public health and sanitation, hospitals, community services, conference centres, shopping complexes etc. Annual Budget: Rs.400 crores. Units: Rs 1 crore = Rs.10 million.

 Decompartmentalization.  Devolution of administrative & financial powers. Accountability = Responsibility + commensurate authority.  Creations of six zones as cohesive units for prompt service delivery under commissioners.  Micro planning to rationalize men, materials, machines & money.

 AC to DC.  Regulatory - top down. Developmental - bottom up.  Administrative charges to check free-riders and inculcate “polluter pays concept”.  Flexible work methods to suit citizens’ convenience.

 Computerised complaint redressal system for time bound quality services.  Enforcing discipline.  Awards for meritorious employees.

 Plugging loopholes in property taxation.  Plugging loopholes in Octroi collections. 25% area to be assessed each year. Fixation of accountability. Cross verification & social auditing. Closed loop wireless communications. Flying squads. Vigilance checks & social auditing.

 Computerisation of all accounting systems.  Profit centre approach to bring in efficiencies in service delivery.  Switchover from Govt. accounting systems to commercial accounting.

 Results achieved without any hike in tax, cess and charges structure. Out of arrears totalling Rs.102 crores in property taxes 97% recoveries achieved. Un-assessed properties yielding annually Rs.30 crores of taxes brought under net. Under assessed properties yielding annually Rs.18 crores of taxes brought under net. Octroi collections jumped up by 19%.

 Unit rate system for roads, water supply sewerage, lighting, maintenance.  Breaking the cartel of contractors.  Six month six page rule.  Quality checks on construction through third party assurance.

 Results : Plan expenditure increased by 600%. 825 classrooms constructed in the slums in 18 months. 95% of pop. covered by protected drinking water. New water treatment plants commissioned increasing the capacity three fold.

 Results : New sewerage treatment plants commissioned increasing the capacity six fold. 92 kms. of main roads widened. 82 % of slums upgraded. 300 kms. New roads laid.

 Results : Street lighting goes upto 98.2%. 96.5% population covered by sanitation services. 98% garbage cleared daily. Private public partnerships. Surat First Crusade launched.

 Declared second cleanest city in the country by INTACH.  75% reduction in morbidity rates (IMA).  Awarded “Best Practices Award” by UNCHS (Habitat).  Citizens owning the city and increased social auditing of the municipal corporation.  Increased self-esteem, team spirit in the employees.

We don’t see things as they are we see them as we are. Anais Nin No matter how bleak the situation There are always two alternatives. Polish Proverb