The Assam Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2011

Registered No.-768/97 THE ASSAM GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY ® st 4 ^ PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY 151 W . 25 CT, 2011, 4 1933 (’RP) No. 151 Dispur, Wednesday, 25th May, 2011, 4th Jyaistha, 1933 (S.E.) GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM ORDERS BY THE GOVERNOR LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT :: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH NOTIFICATION The 24th May, 2011 No. LGL.135/2003/44: The following Act of the Assam Legislative Assembly which received the assent of the Governor is hereby published for general information. :(£) nr - nuie .v a r t ot ioA airftfo 8? noitosz ASSAM ACT NO. VIII OF 2011 (Received the assent of the Governor on 8th March, 2011) Sffi .11 *?sn ’iliz / irr- J z GJ blur; Sh: ton THE ASSAM MUNICIPAL (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011 1278 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 25, 2011 AN ACT further to amend the Assam Municipal Act, 1956. Preamble Whereas it is expedient further to amend the Assam Municipal Act, Assam Act 1956, hereinafter referred to as the principal Act, in the manner XV of hereinafter appearing; 1957 It is hereby enacted in the Sixty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows :- Short title, 1. (1) This Act may be called the Assam Municipal (.Amendment) extent and Act,2011. commence­ (2) It shall have die like extent as the principal Act. ment (3) It shall come into force at once. Amendment 2. In the principal Act, in section 11, in sub-section 13), in clause(d), of section 11 in the first and second proviso, for the words *not less than one-third”, the words, “fifty percent” shall be substituted. Amendment 3. In the principal Act. in section 26, sub-section (5) shall be deleted. of section 26 Amendment 4. In the principal Act. in section 33, in sub-section for the figure of section 33 “30”, the figure “50” shall be substiruted. Substitution 5. In the principal Act, for section 42, the following shall be of section 42 substituted, namely “42. Remuneration of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Elected Commissioners.- (1) The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and elected Commissioners of a Municipal Board or a Town Committee shall receive such remunerations as max be determined by the Board at a meeting, depending on the resources of the respective Municipal Board and the Town Committee out of the Municipal Fund consctuied under section 58 of this Act subject to the provisions of sub-section (3): Provided that the remuneration so determined by the Board shall not exceed rupees ten thousand in case of Chairman, rupees seven thousand in case of Vice-Chairman and rupees five thousand in case of elected Com m’ssi oners of a Municipal Board or a Town Committee and the remuneration so determined shall not be paid to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the elected Commissioners without the prior approval of the Government. (2) The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Municipal Board or the Town Committee shall not be entitled for any other kind of pecuniary benefit out of the Municipal Fund, except the Travelling Allowance and the Daily Allowance subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) for the purpose of visiting the sub-divisional and District Head Quarters and the State Capital for official duties at the scale as may be fixed for a Senior Grade officer of the State Government from time to time : THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 25, 2011 1279 Provided that except the Chairman and Vice-Chairman no other elected Commissioner of a Municipal Board or Town Committee shall be entitled to receive the facilities of Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance. Act (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2),any amount of money sanctioned by the State Government as grants-in-aid which is credited to the Municipal Fund under section 58 and any other sum sanctioned by the Central Government for implementation of any scheme, shall not be spent for the purpose of giving remuneration. Travelling Allowance to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or other elected Commissioners, as the case may be.” Substitution 6. In the principal Act, for section 43-A, the following shall be of section 43-A substituted, namely :- “43-A. Annual Budget.- A Municipal Board or a Town Committee shall pass their Annual Budget estimates as per the format as may be prescribed, for the next financial year, before the last day of February of the preceding financial year, in the Board at a meeting and submit the same to the Director for his approval, which shall be approved by the Director before the 31st day of March of the preceding financial year. If any Municipal Board or Town Committee fails to submit the Annual Budget estimates duly passed by the Board in a meeting, to the Director within 31st day of March of the preceding financial year, shall have no claim for V getting any grants-in-aid from the State Government during the next financial year. Before the end of the month of April every year, the Director shall submit to the Government a list of defaulting Municipal Boards and Town Committees who have not submitted the Annual Budget estimate within the time as stipulated in this section.” Amendment 7. In the principal Act, in section 50,- of section 50 (i) in sub-section (1), in between the word “establishment” and punctuation mark the words “subject to the staffing pattern as may be determined by the Government from time to time” shall be inserted ; (ii) in sub-section (1), in the first proviso, the words “if the monthly salary of the office does not carry more than fifty rupees or a salary raising by periodical increments to more than fifty rupees” shall be deleted ; (iii) in sub-section (1), in the second proviso, in between the words “officer” and “whose”, the words “or employees” shall be inserted. Substitution 8. In the principal Act, for section 53, the following shall be of section 53 substituted, namely “53. Appointment of Executive Officer.- (1) The State Government shall appoint an Executive Officer for each and every Municipal Board and Town Committee and shall bear the expenditure in respect of pay and allowances of such Executive Officers. In the Municipalities having a population of one Lakh or more, an Officer of the level of Additional Deputy Commissioner shall be posted as Executive Officer and in all other cases, an Officer not below the rank of a Revenue Circle Officer shall be posted as an Executive Officer. The Government may put one Executive Officer in the charge of more than one Municipal Board or a Town (z; me txecuuve Mincer snail iuncuon unaer me overall control of the Board and under the direct supervision of the Chairman. He shall be further subject to the directions issued to him by the Director or the State Government. All financial matters, particularly those relating to the implementation of schemes by the Municipality funded by the Government of India or the State Government, shall invariably be routed through him after due scrutiny and he shall remain responsible for any act of omission or commission. So far as the functions under the provisions of the Act are concerned, the Executive Officer shall render all assistance to the Chairman and the Board.” Insertion of 9. In the principal Act, after section 53, the following new section section 53A 53A shall be inserted, namely “53A. Transfer of function, fund and functionaries as provided under the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution.- (l)The State Gdvemment in appropriate Department(s) shall make arrangement for transfer of function, fund and functionaries to the Municipalities as provided under the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution. The arrangement mentioned above shall be of the following nature:- The subjects of Urban Planning including Town Planning, regulation f land use and construction of buildings, slum -- e~ ?-_• and _n gradation, shall stand transferred to the ' ' ared for an area and implementation of those within the notified area of a Municipality shall only be transferred to the concerned Municipality by the Urban Development Department. The services of an Official of the Directorate of Town & Country Planning, Assam shall be placed partially at the disposal of the concerned Municipality or a contiguous group of Municipalities ' for this purpose. Taking up and implementation of the schemes for slum improvement and up gradation shall wholly be a subject of the Municipalities. The Board ax a meeting of every Municipality shall take decision regarding any matter including incurring expenditure relating to the subjects mentioned in this clause. The concerned officials mentioned in this clause shall implement the decision taken by the Board at a meeting, subject to the conformity of any law, rule or executive instruction issued by the Government in this regard from time to time. (ii) The subject of roads and bridges shall stand transferred to the respective Municipalities. The services of an official of the appropriate level alongwith the required establishment under such official of the Roads Wings of the Public Works Department, Assam, shall be placed by the Public Works Department partially at the disposal of the concerned Municipality or a contiguous group of Municipalities for this purpose. Taking up of the schemes within the notified area of a Municipality relating to the subject, in consultation with the officials mentioned above and the implementation of the same under the technical supervision of the said officials, shall be decided by the Board at a meeting of every Municipality. Such a decision may include the expenditure that may be incurred for implementation of any scheme, so taken up, with due consultation and under the technical supervision of the officials of the Department mentioned above in this clause. The concerned officials mentioned in this clause shall implement the decision taken by the Board at a meeting, subject to the conformity of any law, rule or any established procedure followed by the Department in this regard. THE ASSAM G.AZE1 I7E. hA rrc-^wrrvLzi; (iii) The subject of Urban Forestry, protection of the environment and promotion of ecological aspects, shall stand transferred to the respective Municipalities. The services of an official of the appropriate level alongwith the required establishment under such official of the Forest Department, Assam, shall be placed by the Forest Department partially at the disposal of the concerned Municipality or a contiguous group of Municipalities for this purpose. Taking up of the schemes within the notified area of a Municipality relating to this subject in consultation with the officials mentioned above and the implementation of the same under the technical supervision of the said officials, shall be decided by the Board at a meeting of every Municipality. Such a decision may include the expenditure that may be incurred for implementation of any scheme, so taken up, with due consultation and under the technical supervision of the officials of the Department mentioned in this clause. The concerned officials mentioned in this clause shall implement the decision taken by the Board at a meeting, subject to the conformity of any law, rule or executive instruction issued by the Government in this regard. (iv) The subject of Safeguarding the interests of weaker sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded, shall stand transferred to the respective Municipalities. The services of an official of the appropriate level alongwith the required establishment under such official of the Social Welfare Department, Assam, shall be placed by the Social Welfare Department partially at the disposal of the concerned Municipality or a contiguous group of Municipalities for this purpose. Taking up of the schemes with in the notified area of a Municipality relating to this subject, in consultation with the officials mentioned in this clause and the implementation of the same under the supervision of the said officials, shall be decided by the Board at a meeting of every Municipality. Such a decision may include the expenditure that may be incurred for implementation of any scheme, so taken up, with due consultation and under the supervision of the officials of the Department mentioned in this clause. The concerned officials mentioned in this clause shall implement the decision taken by the Board at a meeting, subject to the conformity of any law, rule or executive instruction issued by the Government in this regard, (v) The subject of Vital Statistics including registration of Births and Deaths, shall stand transferred to the respective Municipalities, subject to the relevant provisions of law governing the matter. The services of an official of the appropriate level alongwith the required establishment under such official of the Health & Family Welfare Department, Assam, shall be placed by the Health & Family Welfare Department partially at the disposal of the concerned Municipality or a contiguous group of Municipalities for this purpose. Implementation of this matter within the notified area of a Municipality, in consultation with the officials mentioned in this clause shall be decided by the Board at a meeting of every Municipality. Such a decision may include the expenditure that may be incurred for implementation of this subject in the notified area of a Municipality, with due consultation and under the technical supervision of the officials of the Department mentioned in this clause. The concerned officials mentioned in Act No. 18 this clause shall implement the decision taken by the Board at a of 1969 meeting, subject to conformity to the provisions contained in this regard in the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and the rules framed there under. (vi) The subjects of Planning for economic and social development, Urban poverty alleviation, Water Supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purposes, Public Health, Sanitation, Conservancy, Solid Waste Management, provision of Urban amenities and facilities such as parks, gardens, play grounds, promotion of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects, burials and burial grounds, crematoriums, cremation grounds, electric cremation grounds, electric crematoriums, cattle pounds, prevention of cruelty to animals, public amenities including street lighting, parking lots, bus stops and public conveniences, regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries, shall be the inherent subjects to be implemented by a Municipality and for which the schemes may be formulated from time to time by the Board at a meeting of every Municipality and implemented out of their own fund or submitted to the Government for implementation by them under any centrally sponsored or central sector scheme or out of State Plan or Non-Plan fund, with the technical assistance, guidance and supervision of the officials serving under the Urban Development Department of the State and the officials serving under the respective Municipalities. For Urban poverty alleviation, mentioned in this clause, an Urban poverty cell shall be opened in every Municipality for giving effect to the guidelines issued by the Government in this regard from time to time. (2) There shall be a Committee consisting of the following to monitor the matter of early and smooth transfer of fund, function and functionaries to the Municipalities, as mentioned in sub­ section !):- (>) Minister in charge, Chairman. Urban Development Department Dispur. (ii) Senior most Secretary Vice-Chairman 3 of the Urban Development Oih O'i Department, Government of Assam. (iii) Chief Engineer, Public Member Works Department (Roads) (iv) Chief Conservator of Member Forests (Social Forestry) (v) Director of Health Services, Member Assam (vi) Director, Town & Country Member Planning. (vii) Director, Social Welfare, Member Assam (viii) Managing Director, Assam Member State Housing Board. (ix) Managing Director, Assam Member Urban Water Supply and Sewerage wU Board. n-ar (X) Director of Municipal Member Secretary Administration, Assam. (3) The Committee shall meet from time to time to monitor the progress of the transfer of fund, function and functionaries to the Municipalities and to suggest any steps as may be necessary on the part of the respective Department for effective implementation of this section. Amendment of 10. In the principal Act, in section 61, in the first paragraph, for the section 61 words appearing after the words “Municipal fund”, the following shall be substituted, namely :- “or from any account opened separately for a scheme under the specific instruction of the Government, shall be signed by the Chairman and the Executive Officer”. Amendment of 11. In the principal Act, in section 64, in sub-section (2), in the first section 64 paragraph, in between the words “Vice Chairman” and the punctuation mark the words “and the Executive Officer” shall be inserted. Insertion of 12. In the principal Act, after section 67, the following new chapter new chapter IVA consisting of sections 67A to 67H, shall be inserted IVA “Chapter IVA Municipal Audit 67A. Maintenance of Accounts. - The Chief Municipal Officer shall prepare and maintain accounts of receipts and expenditure of the Municipality for a year in such Form and in such manner, as may be prescribed. Explanation;- For the purposes of this Chapter, “the Chief Municipal Officer” shall mean the Executive Officer posted in a Municipality and in case of vacancy in the said post, the Chairman of a Municipal Board or Town Committee, as the case may be The year shall mean the Financial Year. 67B. Financial Statement. - (1) The Chief Municipal Officer shall, within four months of the close of a year, cause to be prepared a financial statement containing an income and expenditure account and a receipt and payment account for the preceding year in respect of the accounts of the Municipality. (2) The Form of the financial statement and the manner in which the financial statement shall be prepared, shall be such as may be prescribed. 67C. Balance Sheet. - (1) The Chief Municipal Officer shall within four months from the date of closing of a year, cause to be prepared a Balance Sheet of the assets and the liabilities of Municipality for the preceding year. (2) The form of the Balance Sheet and the manner in which the Balance Sheet shall be prepared shall be such as may be prescribed. 67D. Submission of Financial Statement and Balance Sheet to the Auditor.- The Financial Statement prepared under Section 67B and the Balance Sheet of the assets and liabilities prepared under Section 67C shall be placed by the Chief Municipal Officer before the Board of the Municipality, which after examination of the same, shall adopt and remit the same to the Auditor. Explanation :- For the purpose of this Chapter “the Auditor” shall mean the Director of Audit (Local Fund), Assam or any officer authorised by him in this behalf. 1284 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 25, 2011 67E. Power of the Auditor. - (1) The Municipal Accounts as contained in the financial statement including the accounts of specific funds, if any, and the balance sheet shall be examined and audited by the Auditor. (2) The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (C & AG) shall provide Technical Guidance and Supervision (TGS) over the proper maintenance of accounts and audit of the Municipalities. Explanation:- The TGS over Municipalities by the C & AG of India shall include - Providing of guidance regarding maintenance of accounts, auditing standards, certification, guidelines, training for capacity building, comments on accounts and test audit of municipalities selected as a representative sample. ►, ■ (3) The C&AG shall prepared an Annual Technical Inspection Report based on the TGS and the test check of the accounts of the Municipalities to be placed before the Board of the respective Municipality. (4) The C&AG may exercise at his discretion, the right to report to the State Legislature the results of such test audit. (5) The Chief Municipal Officer shall submit such further accounts to the Auditor and the C&AG as may be required. (6) The Auditor may - (i) require by a notice, in writing, the production before him, or before any officer subordinate to him, of any document which he considers necessary for the proper conduct of the audit; (ii) require by a notice, in writing, any person accountable for, or having the custody or control of any document, cash or article, to appear in person before him or before any officer subordinate to him; (iii) require any person so appearing before him, or before any officer subordinate to him, to make or sign a declaration with respect to such document, cash or article or to answer any question or prepare and submit any statement and cause physical verification of any stock of articles in course of examination of accounts. (7) The Auditor or the officer subordinate to him, may report as regards any item of accounts which appears to him to be contrary to the provisions of this Act, to the Board of the Municipality. (8) The Board of the Municipality at a meeting shall consider the report of the Auditor alongwith test audit report of the C&AG as early as possible and shall, if necessary, take prompt action thereon, and shall also, if necessary, surcharge the amount of any illegal payment on the person making or authorising it, and charge against any person responsible therefore, the amount of any deficiency or loss incurred due to the negligence or misconduct of such person or any amount which ought to have been, but is not, brought in to account by such person, and shall in every such case, certify the amount due from such person : 1 FLC .A dd.A Al U A / L llE . JZyX 1 IWA.V7IXJLyilNZ-VJiV 1, LVin. 1 z,v 1 1 Provided that any person aggrieved by an order of payment of certified sums may appeal to the State Government whose decision on such appeal shall be final. (9) Any person who willfully neglects, or refuses to comply with requisition made by the Auditor or the officer subordinate to him or refuses to comply with any order or direction given by the Board under sub-section (8), shall be liable for any legal action against him as may be considered necessary and appropriate by the Board of the Municipality. 67F. Audit Report. - (1) As soon as possible after the completion of audit of the accounts of the Municipality, but not later than the thirtieth day of September, every year, the Auditor shall prepared a report of the accounts audited and examined and shall send such report alongwith Test Audit Report of the C&AG to the Chief Municipal Officer. (2) The auditor shall include in such report.- (a) every payment which appears to the Auditor to be contrary to law; (b) the account of any deficiency or loss, which appears to have been caused by the gross negligence or misconduct of any person ; (c) the account of any sum received which ought to have been, but has not been brought into account by any person ; and (d) any other material impropriety or irregularity in the account. 67G. Placing of Audit Report (1) The Chief Municipal Officer shall place the audited financial statement, the balance sheet and the report of the Auditor and his comments together with test audit report of the C&AG thereon, before the Board of the Municipality. (2) The Chief Municipal Officer shall remedy any defect that has been pointed out by the Auditor in his report. 67H. Submission of Audited Accounts. - (1) The Chief Municipal officer shall, after adoption of the financial statement, balance sheet and the report of the Auditor alongwith test audit report of the C&AG, by the Board of the Municipality at a meeting, forward the same to the State Government together with the report of the action taken thereon by the Municipality and shall also send copies of the same to the Auditor and C&AG. (2) If there is any deference of opinion between the Auditor and the Municipality or if the Municipality does not remedy the defects or the irregularities mentioned in the Audit report within a reasonable period, the Auditor shall refer the matter to the State Government, whose decision thereon shall be final and binding”. Substitution of 13. In the principal Act, for section 79, the following shall be section 79 substituted, namely :- “79. Determination of Annual Value of holding.- The Annual Value of holding shall be determined in accordance with the procedure described below in section 79A, 79B, 79C, 79D and 79E respectively. In the said sections, unless there is any thing repugnant to the subject or context, the following terms shall bear the meanino >------*- 1286 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 25. 2011 (i) “Annual rental value” means the rent that a holding is capable of fetching over a period of one year ; (ii) “publish” means, to publish in one vernacular and in one English daily news paper predominantly in circulation in the notified area of the Municipality ; (iii) “Commercial holding” means and include any holding or part of a holding which is used as shop, market, for display and sale of goods either whole sale or retail, office, storage and service facilities incidental to the sale of goods and located in the same holding shall be included under this group ; (iv) “Industrial holding” means and include any holding or part of the holding or structure in which products or materials of all kinds and properties are fabricated, assembled or processed like assembly plants, laboratories, power plants, smoke house, refineries, gas plants, mills, dairies, factories etc.” Insertion of new 14. In the principal Act, after section 79, the following new sections 79A.79B sections shall be inserted, namely 79C.79D and 79E “79A. Classification of holding.- (1) The holding within a Municipality shall be classified by the respective Board at a meeting of the concerned Municipality on the basis of the situation of the holding, use of the holding and the type of construction. (2) Regarding situation of the holding, the following matters shall be considered:- (i) Holding on the Principal Main Road ; (ii) Holding on the Main Road ; (iii) Holding other than clauses (i) and (ii) above. (3) Regarding Use of the Holding, the following matters shall be considered (i) Purely residential; (ii) Purely Commercial and Industrial, whether self owned or otherwise ; (iii) Partly residential and partly commercial or industrial; (iv) All Holdings other than clauses (i) to (iii) above. (4) Regarding type of construction, the following matters shall be considered (i) Pucca building with RCC roof ; (ii) Pucca building with Asbestos or Galvanized Corrugated Iron sheet as roofing material; (iii) All other buildings not covered trader clauses (i) and (ii) above. (5) Subject to the approval of the following committee, a Municipality may from time to time publish the list of Principal Main Roads and the Main Roads and if necessary modify the lists as may be decided by the committee. The committee shall consist of the following for each Municipality:- (i) The Deputy Commissioner, as Chairman, in case of the Municipality is located within the area of a Sadar Sub-Division in a District, in other cases, the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) of the area, as Chairman ; (ii) The Executive Engineer or an Assistant Executive Engineer of the Roads wing of the Public Works Department, Assam, within whose jurisdiction, the Municipality is located, as Member; (iii) The Executive Engineer or an Assistant Executive Engineer of the Buildings wing of the Public Works Department, Assam, within whose jurisdiction, the Municipality is located, as Member ; (iv) The Chairman of the concerned Municipality, as Member; (v) The officer of the Directorate of Town & Country Planning, functioning in the District / Sub-Division and within in whose jurisdiction the Municipality is located, as Member; (vi) The Revenue Circle Officer(s) of the Area constituting the notified area of a Municipality, as Member ; (vii) The Vice- Chairman of the concerned Municipality, as Member- Secretary. The same Committee will also function for the purpose of section 171 of the Act, subject to the bye laws framed in this regard. 79B. Methods of calculation of Carpet Area for commutation of Annual Rental Value of a Holding.- For the purpose of calculation of Annual Rental Value of a Holding, measurement of Carpet Area shall be calculated as under (1) Rooms- Full measurement of Internal Dimension ; (ii) Covered Verandah - Full measurement of Internal Dimension; (iii) Balcony / Corridor, Kitchen and Store- 50% measurement of Internal Dimension ; (iv Garage - 25% measurement of Internal Dimension ; (v) Area covered by Bathroom, Latrine, Portico and stair case shall not form part of the Carpet Area. 79C. Power to fix the Rental Value and the Annual Rental Value. - (1) The rate of Rental Value per sq.ft, shall be fixed by the Board of the Municipality at a meeting, with prior approval of the Committee mentioned under section 79A. (2) The Annual Rental Value shall be commuted at a multiple of the Carpet Area and the Rental Value fixed under sub­ section (1), by the Board of the Municipality at a meeting, with prior approval of the Committee mentioned under section 79A. (3) The Rental Value per sq.ft, of Carpet Area for different classes of holding shall be published from time to time by the Municipality with the approval of the Committee mentioned under section 79A . 79D. Rate of Tax.- Tax shall be assessed on the basis of Annual Rental Value at the following rates:- (i) Holding Tax - At the rate of 2.5% of the Annual Rental Value ; (ii) Water Tax - Subject to the provisions of sections 68 and 71 of this Act, at the rate of 2% of Annual Rental Value, other than the users’ charge ; (iii) Latrine Tax - Subject to the provisions of sections 68 and 72 of this Act, at the rate of 2% of Annual Rental Value. 1288_______ THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 25, 2011 79E. Power of Revision of Tax.- If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the Principle of fixation of the Annual Rental Value as per the provisions of this Act, the State Government shall have the power to review the same, on getting a report from the Executive Officer of the concerned Municipality”. Amendment of 15 In the principal Act, in section 81, for the word “section”, the section 81 word “sections” shall be substituted. Amendment of 16. In the principal Act, in section 83, - section 83 (i) in sub section (l), in between the words “meeting” and “may”, the following shall be inserted, namely :- “with the approval of the committee mentioned under section 79A of this Act” ; (ii) in sub-section (3), for the words “Chairman or Vice- Chairman”, the words “Chairman and the Executive Officer” shall be substituted. Amendment of 17. In the principal Act, in section 96,- section 96 (i) in sub-section (1), for the words occurring after the words “Committee”, the words “mentioned under section 79A” shall be substituted; (ii) sub-section (2) shall be deleted; (iii) in sub-section (4), the words “or the Officer of the Government”, occurring in between the words “committee” A and “shall”, shall be deleted ; / (iv) in sub-section (5), the words “or the Officer of the i Government”, occurring in between the words “committee” and “order”, shall be deleted ; (v) in sub-section (6), the words and punctuation mark “or of the officer of the Government,” occurring in between the words “thereof” and “in”, shall be deleted. Amendment of '18. In the principal Act, in section 97, the words “or Officer of the section 97 Government” occurring in between the words “committee” and “for”, shall be deleted. Amendment of 19 In the principal Act, in section 171, in sub-section (1), for the section 171 existing provision, the following shall be substituted, namely:- “Provided that in an area in respect of which an Authority has Assam Act been constituted under the Assam Town and Country No.n of Planning Act, 1959, the power of giving sanction to erect, 1960 materially alter or re-erect any building shall be subject to issue of a No Objection Certificate by the concerned Authority to the Board”. MOHD. A. HAQUE, Secretary to the Government of Assam, Legislative Department, Dispur. GUWAHATI - Printed and Published by the Dy. Director (P&S), Directorate of Ptg. and Sty., Assam Guwahati-21 (Ex-Gazette) No. 301-200+600-25-5-2011.