BMC receives over 800 objections about restructuring of wards

A file picture of voting in the BMC election at Jogeshwari. Pic/Nimesh Dave

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received 812 suggestions/objections by 3 pm on Monday, on the restructuring of electoral wards for the upcoming civic polls. More than 50 per cent of these objections - 454 - were given on Monday which was the last day for submissions. Most of the complaints were received at K East, M East, N and R South wards. A hearing on the same will be on February 22 after the complaints are segregated on the basis of boundary issues, descriptions, population, etc.

How electoral wards increased

As per instructions from the state election commission, the civic body published a draft on the restructuring of 236 wards after adding nine wards. As per the draft, one ward increased each in Byculla (E ward), Parel (FS) and Worli (GS), Andheri (KE), Kandivli (RS), Dahisar (RN), Kurla (L), Chembur (MW) and Ghatkopar (N).

K East ward comprising Andheri East, Jogeshwari East and Vileparle East received 85 complaints, M East ward comprising Govandi, Deonar received 84 complaints while N ward (Ghatkopar) received 79 and R South (Kandivli) received 76 complaints. A ward (Colaba, Nariman Point) with two electoral wards hasn't received any suggestion/objection. At least 134 complaints were received in the central platform of the Election Head Office.

"The sorting of queries and on-ground inspection has started. A committee comprising the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department of Maharashtra officials, collectors of the city and suburbs, and the municipal commissioner will hear the complaints from Feb 22. We have decided the venues for this but the committee will finalise them," said a BMC official.

The types of complaints

There are three major types of complaints. Some people have complained about boundaries and about including/excluding particular areas, others have complained about descriptions of ward areas and boundaries. The average population of wards is around 52,000 with a variation of 10 per cent. Some citizens have complained about exceeding the norms about population. There are general complaints also, against dividing gardens into two wards, dividing community votes in two parts, etc.

454
No. of objections received on Monday