Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated the process for holding election to the newly-formed urban local bodies (ULBs) by directing the district collectors to expedite the exercise of ward delimitation.
The state government has directed the district Magistrates and Collectors to fast-track ward delimitation and seat reservation for 28 newly-constituted Notified Area Councils (NACs), seven new Municipalities, and two Municipal Corporations paving the way for timely urban local body elections.
In an official communication issued by Director of Municipal Administration, Arindam Dakua, district authorities have been asked to complete the entire process by March
31, enabling the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct polls within the statutory six-month timeframe.
The exercise, mandated under Sections 11 and 12 of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950, covers equitable ward division and reservation for SC, ST, women and other eligible categories.
Draft notifications will be issued on February 12, objections invited till February 21, and final notifications published by March 31 after appeal hearings.
The notification on delimitation and reservation of seats will be issued on February 26. Following this, objections and appeals will be accepted from February 26 to March 13. The appeals will be heard between March 16 and March 28, and the final notification will be issued by the collectors by March 31.
Collectors across 18 districts have been instructed to follow the approved schedule strictly and report progress regularly.
Notably, the State Election Commission had told the government to complete the delimitation and reservation process within six months of the declaration of the establishment of NACs and municipalities