Rivers passing through urban areas have become virtual sewers, and groundwater contamination is rampant. Mounds of solid waste lie unattended and landfills are improperly managed. Globally, what is being increasingly used to improve the efficiency of municipal services is performance measurement. This management technique has been borrowed from the corporate sector. Coupled to this concept is the dissemination of best practices and exchange of experiences among municipalities.
Performance measurement is of the results, outcomes, and efficiency of services or programmes.
The central idea behind performance measurement is to identify gaps in information, weaknesses related to infrastructure and job skills, budgetary constraints, and ways and means of strengthening the municipal services. It involves determining the efficiency, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and timeliness of services being provided by a municipal body keeping in view the existing constraints. Performance measurement could provide a measure of the cost per unit of service provided e.g., rupees spent in providing per thousand litres of drinking water. It also compares the accomplished results to those planned and targeted. Moreover, it indicates the quality of service provided e.g., the ratio of garbage collected to the total garbage generated.