Cabinet OKs ordinance to simplify ward reservation

Panaji: The state cabinet on Friday approved an ordinance, Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, to simplify the reservation process based on population and determine the number of wards ahead of municipal elections scheduled in May.

The ordinance replaces the term “municipal area” with “population” and increases the number of voters per ward from 2,500 to 3,000. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said the State Election Commission has been given more powers in ward reservation.

Through an order published in the official gazette, the SEC will fix the number of wards for each municipal area. It will then begin delimitation within 60 days of the order’s publication.

The SEC will prepare a draft delimitation plan and publish it in the gazette, inviting objections and suggestions from the public within 30 days. All written submissions will be examined, following which the SEC will issue a final delimitation notification in consultation with the govt within 30 days from the last date of submissions.