Bhubaneswar: Initiating the process for urban polls, the state government has asked all district collectors to complete the delimitation of wards and reservation of seats and offices of chairperson by April 30, 2018. The Housing and Urban Development Department sent a letter to the Collectors in this regard Tuesday.
The letter said that the five-year terms of 90 urban local bodies (ULBs) will complete shortly making it necessary to conduct elections to these civic bodies. Accordingly, the department asked them to carry out delimitation of wards and reservation of seats in these NACs and municipalities.
As per the direction issued by the department, delimitation of wards and reservation of seats as per the provision of Orissa Municipal Act 1950 needs to be completed by February 15, 2018. After which the district magistrates will ask for objections and suggestions, if any, by February 24. Publication of notification of ward delimitation and seat reservation will be made March 8. Appeal against this notification will be allowed till March 23 and the hearing on the appeal will take place between March 26 and April 25.
The district magistrate will then issue the final notification on delimitation of wards and reservation of seats by April 30, 2018.
Director of Municipal Administration Sangramjit Nayak asked the district collectors to take immediate steps in this regard to enable the State Election Commission to conduct the election to these municipalities and NACs in time.
PNN