Government to increase local body wards; Guidelines and redistribution process begins

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the governor approving the bill to increase the wards of local bodies, the government formed a delimitation commission headed by state election commissioner A. Shahjahan. The other members of the commission are four officers of secretary level.

IT Environment Department Secretary Dr. Ratan U Khelkal, Public Works Secretary K. Biju, Industry Secretary S. Hari Kishore, Transport Secretary K. Vasuki has been included. However, there is no local secretary. Ward redistribution process will start now.

One ward will be increased in a local body in proportion to population. The number of minimum wards in gram panchayats will increase from 13 to 14 and in institutions with high wards from 23 to 24. The commission will soon release the guidelines for division of wards in the first phase. In the second phase, the local body secretaries will prepare a draft map by creating new wards proportional to the population of 2011 and re-determining the boundaries of other wards. This will be submitted to the district level officials and the commission. Will be published later. In the third phase, the Commission and the District Collector will receive objections and comments regarding the division. District level officials will be appointed to investigate this. If necessary, the commission will also conduct site inspection. Then the final ward division report will be published.