Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Friday revised the schedule for ward delimitation and seat reservation for elections to municipalities, NACs and municipal corporations scheduled early next year, an official said.
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department informed district collectors about the revised schedule, making partial changes to the earlier timeline, an official statement said.
According to the revised schedule, district collectors will publish the draft notification on ward delimitation and seat reservation September 24, inviting objections and suggestions from the public. The last date for filing objections and suggestions is October 3.
The preliminary notification will be published October 7, following which appeals can be filed before the HUD department between October 7 and 21, the statement said.
District collectors will forward the appeals received, along with their recommendations or comments, to the Director of Municipal Administration by October 22 through a special messenger.
The state government, acting as the appellate authority, will hear the appeals and take a final decision between October 26 and 28, it said.
The final notification on ward boundary redetermination and seat reservation will be published by the district collectors October 31.
Copies of the notification will be furnished to the State Election Commission, the state government, the Notified Area Councils (NAC) and municipalities.
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A separate revised timeline has been prescribed for ward delimitation and seat reservation in the municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Kataka, Brahampur and Raurkela.
The four municipal corporations have been asked to submit information on ward delimitation and seat reservation to the HUD department by September 24 in the prescribed Form-I and Form-II, along with sketch maps showing ward boundaries and the resolution of the respective municipal corporation.
The department will publish the draft notification on the proposed redetermination of ward boundaries and seat reservation October 5, inviting objections and suggestions from the public. The last date for filing them is October 14.
The department has directed the municipal commissioners of the four cities to furnish all requisite information and documents within the stipulated timelines.
The department has also instructed all district collectors and municipal commissioners to ensure that the delimitation and reservation processes are completed smoothly and within the prescribed timelines.