1 week ago
West Bengal Publishes Draft for 209 Kolkata Municipal Wards
The government of West Bengal has proposed changing the map of Kolkata’s municipal wards.
The number of wards would grow from 144 to 209.
People and political groups can send suggestions or objections until September 3.
However, the draft does not explain how many voters are in each ward.
It also does not clearly show which old wards were split or what the new wards are called.
A Kolkata Municipal Corporation official said an all-party meeting would be organized.
Opposition leaders said the government should have consulted political parties and the public earlier.
One opposition leader also questioned whether the larger number of councillors would increase costs.
Kolkata is expected to get an elected municipal board by December 7.
The West Bengal government published a draft revising Kolkata Municipal Corporation ward boundaries.
The number of wards is proposed to rise from 144 to 209.
The draft sets September 3 as the deadline for suggestions and objections.
It does not provide voter counts, details of ward splits, or the names of newly formed wards.
Opposition leaders criticized the process, while the KMC said an all-party meeting would be held soon.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, political parties, and Kolkata residents are involved.
- What
- A draft proposes revising Kolkata’s ward boundaries and increasing the number of wards from 144 to 209.
- Where
- Kolkata, under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
- When
- The deadline for suggestions and objections is September 3; an elected board is expected by December 7.
- Why
- The state is carrying out ward delimitation after amending the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 to provide for 209 wards.
Official Process
Opposition Criticism
Timing of consultation
Official Process
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation said an all-party meeting would be held and the draft allows suggestions and objections until September 3.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition leaders said an all-party meeting and public consultation should have taken place before the ward boundaries were revised.
Information in the draft
Official Process
The state published the draft after amending the municipal law to recognize 209 wards.
Opposition Criticism
Critics said the document does not tell residents whether their ward numbers changed or clearly identify wards created through splits.
Purpose and cost of delimitation
Official Process
The state has proceeded with increasing the number of wards from 144 to 209.
Opposition Criticism
A CPM leader questioned the need for more councillors given the KMC’s poor finances, while a Trinamool leader alleged the boundary changes serve BJP interests.
Key facts
- Current wards
- 144
- Proposed wards
- 209
- Objection deadline
- September 3
- Legal change
- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980 was amended on August 12 to incorporate 209 wards.
- Draft limitations
- It does not include ward-wise voter numbers, details of splits, or the names of new wards formed after splits.
- Consultation plan
- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation said an all-party meeting would be convened, with its date and time to be decided.
- Expected elected board
- An elected Kolkata Municipal Corporation board is expected by December 7, according to an announcement cited in the report.
Quotes
Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya
Former Calcutta mayor and CPM leader
“The KMC’s finances are in poor condition. More councillors will mean increased expenses for councillors. What was the need to do this?”
telegraphindia.com
“It is clear from the way the ward boundaries have been split that it serves the BJP’s politics.”
telegraphindia.com
KMC official
An unnamed official of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation
“We will convene an all-party meeting. The date and time of the meeting will be decided soon.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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