Privatization started after the adoption of new economic policy in 1991 and has slowly and steadily spread to the level of local self-government in general and urban local bodies (ULBs) in particular. In this context, many ULBs are reported to have privatized the collection of revenue from certain sources and provision of some services. A particular mention may be made of the collection of octroi, urban wastes management, maintenance and upkeep of street lighting, municipal parks, toilets, etc. The present study attempts to examine the changes in revenue collection and the operational efficiency of different municipal services after privatization in urban local bodies of some selected states in India. The study is based mostly on the secondary data/information. Field surveys were also conducted in some of the states, notably Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh etc. It has been found that the collection of octroi substantially improved after privatization. Even the collection of property tax in Bangalore Mahanagar Palika improved after involving the stakeholders (property owners) in the self-assessment of property tax. The book also presents an in-depth study of positive impacts of privatization of urban waste management based on field surveys of places like Suryapet and Greater Vishakhapatnam (AP), Namakkal (TN), Bangalore (Kar) and SAS Nagar (Pb). The results based on the study of these specific places are, however, universally applicable in the country. The book will be immensely useful to administrators and policymakers in bringing the desired changes to improve the working of local self-government through functional and operational autonomy. It will also be useful to the students, teachers and researchers of related fields.
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