Mysuru: The Government has issued the final notification delimiting all the 65 MCC Wards in the city, following which the Mysuru City Corporations (MCC) is busy with the process involved, which include Ward mapping and documentation, voter list revision etc.,

The Urban Development Department, based on the 2011 population census, had issued a notification on Feb.8, 2018 delimiting the MCC Wards.

The Department had given a 15-day deadline for the members of the public to file objections, if any, following which the Department issued final notification on April 23.

After the final notification, the MCC is currently busy with the process involved in  the delimitation.

Although there is no change in the number of Wards, there has been a drastic change in the numbering of Wards and accordingly, Hebbal Lakshmi Kanthnagar has been numbered as Ward No.1 and Sirampura, the last Ward at No.65.

The delimitation has been done keeping in mind the city’s population, with each Ward having a population ranging from 12,000 to 14,000. As there has been a drastic change in delimitation, the Corporators have to get first-hand information on the Geography of the Ward before contesting again.

With the current term of the MCC coming to an end in September this year, the Election Commission will hold elections as per the new Ward delimitation. However, the Government is yet to announce the reservation matrix and once it is done, political activities in every Ward will gain momentum with the MCC polls just a few months away.

As there was disparity in the population among MCC Wards, the previous MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha undertook delimitation of the Wards to maintain a balance in population figures in every Ward.

MCC Corporator B.L. Bhyrappa, who is also a former Mayor, reacting to the delimitation, claimed that certain MUDA Layouts and as well as MUDA-approved layouts, totally numbering 62, have been excluded from delimitation.

Maintaining that the MUDA had handed over these 62 Layout to the MCC some time ago, Bhyrappa opined that the inclusion of all these Layouts will facilitate proper infrastructure development in them. As such, it would be better if the number of Wards are increased from the present 65, he said and appealed the Government for a review of delimitation.

BJP Corporator B.V. Manjunath said that it is but natural to undertake delimitation of Wards once in 10 years but the Congress Government has interfered in delimitation to ensure that it is benefited the most from the delimitation. As there is political interference and discrepancies in delimitation, it is better to have a different look at the exercise and set in motion a fresh delimitation, he said.

Taking strong exception to the numbering of Wards, Manjunath, citing an example, said that the numbering will begin from the Big Clock Tower near the city Palace and accordingly, the numbering (No.1) will commence from the Palace.

But as per the current delimitation, the Ward covering Hebbal-Lakshmikanthanagar has been numbered as MCC Ward No.1, which is ridiculous.

Maintaining that the authorities have no powers to carry out delimitation as per their will, he maintained that although the final notification on delimitation has been published, the numbering of Wards can be changed at the DC’s level.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesh said that following delimitation, electoral rolls revision, Ward mapping etc., is going on now. Pointing out that Geo-mapping technology is being used for easy Ward location, he said that all the steps involved in the delimitation process will be done simultaneously.

The MCC will invite objections once the electoral rolls revision work is completed, he said and added that everything is being done in a careful manner to ensure a discrepancy-free process.

By M.B. Pavan Murthy