Hike in number of wards meant for SCs during civic polls

Citing an increase in Mumbai’s Scheduled Caste (SC) population, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased the number of electoral wards for the SC category by four for the upcoming civic polls on February 2017. The wards in the SC category will now amount to 15 in number, as opposed to the present 11.

Sources in the BMC said that this decision was taken in a meeting conducted by municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the civic body has maintained the number of wards allotted to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category at two wards only, which is its present status. The civic body has reduced the number of electoral wards in South Mumbai by six, with the island city now having 56 wards. The BMC sources said, “We have reduced one electoral ward per administrative ward in South Mumbai, which will now have only 56 wards, as the population here is seen to have declined slightly.” The western suburbs have been allotted 101 wards, and the eastern suburbs have been allotted 70 wards.

Based on a previous formula devised by the election commission, wards are demarcated on the basis of the amount of population residing in a particular area. The population is pegged at 54,000 people per ward, with a buffer of about 10 per cent more or less. However, this time, the BMC has planned to use natural barriers as ward boundaries, where it is feasible. Sources said, “Mumbai does not have natural barriers like ridges and rivers, but we are using highways, nullahs and railway lines as barriers, only to ease the process of demarcating the wards and carrying out administrative work during the elections.”