The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has received a total of 674 suggestions and objections regarding arrangements in electoral wards for the upcoming civic polls in February 2017. These include suggestions for re-alignment of ward boundaries and ward reservations for the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe categories.

The civic body has also clarified that responses received about ward reservations will not be considered. A civic official associated with the process said, “The reservations happen on a rotation basis, and are drawn up in a public lottery. We cannot change the outcome.” About 15 to 20 responses have been received requesting reconsideration of ward reservations. Over 500 responses concern ward delimitation. The official said that these will be considered based on their feasibility.

Interestingly, the BMC has received about 335 suggestions and objections from residents of L ward alone, which comprises the Kurla-Chunnabhatti area. This is the first time the civic body has considered natural barriers such as nullahs and railway lines while demarcating electoral ward boundaries. Since large portions of the F South ward has been included the L ward due to this arrangement, residents of both wards have raised objections.

In a public programme conducted on October 3, the BMC had declared ward boundaries for 227 electoral wards, changing about 80 per cent of existing ward boundaries. It had also declared ward reservation for SC, ST categories and women's reservations via a transparent lottery system.