Preparation for ULB polls begins in Odisha; Collectors, Municipal Commissioners asked to ramp up delimitation of wards

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the ensuing civic body polls, the Housing and Urban Development Department has shot off a letter to all Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to ramp up the process of delimitation of wards and reservation of seats.

In the letter to all Collectors, the department mentioned that the State Government, following the Supreme Court’s judgement, amended relevant provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act-1950 by way of Ordinance dated December 30, 2021 and decided that delimitations of wards and reservation of seats for general election to 107 municipalities and NAC, except those located in scheduled areas, shall be made afresh.

“Therefore, it is necessary to divide the areas within Municipalitie and NACs outside the scheduled areas into wards and reserve seats for SC, ST and women process of delimitation of wards and reservation of seats as per 2011 Census in pursuance of the provisions laid down under Sections 12 (3) (b) (i) and (ii) of Odisha Municipal Act, 1950,” the letter read.

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The department asked all Collectors to complete delimitation of wards and reservation of seats of 107 municipalities and NACs by January 3, 2022. The last date of receipt of objection and suggestions by Collectors is January 12. The Collectors will publish notification relating to delimitation of wards and reservation of seats by January 13.

For general election to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur Municipal Corporations, the respective Commissioners have been asked to submit information on division of wards and reservations of seats under Sections 60, 6 and 7 of OMC Act-2003 by January 5. The draft notification inviting objections and suggestions regarding the same will be issued on January 7. The last date of receipt of objection or suggestion by the Government is January 16.