3 weeks ago
Bengal Ward Expansion Bills for KMC, HMC Due Aug 12
In a place called West Bengal, the Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, has a plan for two big cities, Kolkata and Howrah.
Big cities are split into small areas called wards, and each ward has a leader called a councillor.
The plan would make many more of these wards, taking Kolkata from 144 to 209 and Howrah from 50 to 68.
The leader says this will help people get better services, because some wards are very big with lots of people while others are tiny.
Splitting the biggest wards into smaller ones would make the areas fairer and easier to look after.
The state Assembly will discuss the plan on August 12.
People in both cities will vote for their new councillors by the end of this year, and new leaders are expected to start work by December.
Some other grown-ups are upset because they say people were not asked their opinions and no public meetings were held.
They also say the real reason for the plan might be to help a political party called the BJP win more seats.
Amendment Bills raising Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards from 144 to 209 and Howrah Municipal Corporation wards from 50 to 68 will be introduced at a special Assembly session on August 12, with one report saying they will also be passed that day.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the move after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, linking it to his promise to hand administrative control of the two corporations to newly elected boards by December.
Both municipal corporations are due for civic polls by the end of this year, and the KMC, currently run by an administrator, is expected to have an elected board by December 7.
Officials said revised ward boundaries will be placed in the public domain for residents' suggestions and objections, with the delimitation intended to split densely populated wards for a more even distribution of voters and better civic services.
Opposition leaders, including Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh, criticised the exercise for lacking public hearings and consultation and alleged it is aimed at helping the BJP win more seats.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who announced the Bills; urban development minister Agnimitra Paul and civic officials who supported the plan; and opposition leaders including Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh, who criticised it.
- What
- Amendment Bills to increase Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards from 144 to 209 and Howrah Municipal Corporation wards from 50 to 68 as part of a ward delimitation exercise.
- Where
- West Bengal, covering the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the Howrah Municipal Corporation; the announcement was made at the state secretariat, Nabanna.
- When
- Announced on a Thursday after a cabinet meeting; the Bills will be introduced at a single-day special Assembly session on August 12, and civic polls are due by the end of this year.
- Why
- To redraw ward boundaries for a more even distribution of population and voters and better civic services, and to complete the legal process early so newly elected boards take administrative control of the two corporations by December.
State Government
Opposition / Trinamool Leaders
Process and Consultation
State Government
Officials say the revised ward boundaries will be placed in the public domain for residents' suggestions and objections, and urban development minister Agnimitra Paul said the delimitation aims to ensure better civic services for all wards.
Opposition / Trinamool Leaders
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh said there is no clarity on the exercise, no public hearing has been held, elected representatives were not involved, and a draft list of wards was not published, which opposition parties say democratic practice requires.
Motive Behind the Exercise
State Government
The Chief Minister says the Bills fulfil the promised reorganisation of civic seats and complete the legal process early so newly elected boards take administrative control by December this year.
Opposition / Trinamool Leaders
Trinamool leaders alleged the exercise is aimed at helping the BJP win more seats in the civic polls.
Key facts
- KMC wards
- 144 to 209
- HMC wards
- 50 to 68
- Assembly session
- Single-day special session on August 12
- Civic polls
- Due for both corporations by the end of this year
- KMC board target
- Elected board expected by December 7; currently administrator-run
- Announced by
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after a cabinet meeting on Thursday
- Purpose
- Even distribution of voters and better civic services, with resident feedback sought
- Opposition
- Trinamool leaders allege no public hearing and no involvement of elected representatives
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
West Bengal Chief Minister
“There are wards which are like two or three wards rolled into one, and people aren’t getting services. There are smaller wards as well. But councillors receive the same amount for development irrespective of the size of the wards. That can’t happen.”
telegraphindia.com
“There is no clarity on this delimitation exercise. There has been no public hearing. The elected representatives have not been involved in the process. The aim is to help the BJP win more seats. Nothing else.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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