GHMC delimitation may take time

The process of delimitation of election wards (corporator divisions) in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for forthcoming civic elections is likely to be delayed, as officials are clueless on how to begin the exercise. The delimitation has to be taken up on the basis of 2011 census population but there is a big problem with the census data. Unlike the previous censuses, which provided population data as per municipal wards and blocks (as distinct from election wards), the 2011 census data gives out the break-up only in terms of electoral divisions and revenue mandals.
Ordinary elections to erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) were held in 1960 and 1964 on the basis of 1951 and 1961 census data. In 1986 and 2002, ordinary elections were conducted to MCH after delimitation of electoral wards as per 1981 and 1991 census respectively. The delimitation exercise was taken up on the basis of population of the 23 municipal wards in Hyderabad and 12 municipal wards in Secunderabad. Thus, Secunderabad division, with lower population, was provided with more electoral wards.
After the formation of GHMC in 2007, delimitation of electoral wards was taken up in 2009 on the basis of 2001 census population. The delimitation work became easy as the census data was available for municipal wards and blocks of the erstwhile MCH and the 12 adjoining municipalities that were merged to form the GHMC. In fact, GHMC comprised areas of three revenue districts-Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak.
The state government fixed the strength of GHMC at 150 electoral wards, including 100 in the core city (erstwhile MCH) and 50 in peripheral areas (erstwhile municipalities) as per 2001 census. Elections were held to GHMC in November 2009 and the elected body completed its tenure on 3rd December 2014. In the meantime, writ petitions were filed in Hyderabad High Court, seeking a direction to Telangana government, GHMC and state election commission to carry out delimitation of wards before conducting the civic elections.
Following the high court directions in August 2014, Telangana government issued GO Ms 12 on 22nd October 2014, ordering the GHMC to take up the process of delimitation of election wards as per 2011 census. GHMC commissioner was asked to take necessary action and report compliance at the earliest. Basing on municipal rules and guidelines for delimitation of election wards in force, the GHMC had earlier suggested that the strength of GHMC could be fixed as 172 election wards since the population as per 2011 census is 67,31,790.
However, the government was silent on the issue of fixation of strength of the GHMC for fresh delimitation. Consequently, the GHMC has sought a clarification on this issue from the government and apparently kept the exercise for delimitation in abeyance. For the government, it is not easy to determine the strength, since there is a need to strike a balance between the core city (with census population of 37.25 lakhs) and peripheral areas (30 lakhs). Moreover, the floating (or migrant) population is very high in peripheral areas.
As per the rules, the delimitation of election wards has to be done, taking into account natural boundaries, geographical features and contiguity of the area. The variation in population in the wards shall not be more than 10 per cent of the average population of wards. The delimitation has to commence from the north-east point of the geographical boundary of GHMC and wards have to be numbered serially in clockwise direction starting from the north-east point.
After publication of preliminary notification with the corporation map depicting the existing and proposed ward divisions, the general public have to make suggestions and objections within seven days. The commissioner has to place the notification before the general body of the corporation for its suggestions and objections. Since the term of elected body has ended and the commissioner is appointed as special officer, this formality can be completed by the special officer himself.
After considering the objections and suggestions, the commissioner would send the proposals to the government for approval. The final notification is issued after the government's approval. The exercise of reservations of the election wards for women, SCs, STs and backward classes can be taken up only after the delimitation exercise is completed. Fifty per cent reservations are provided for women across the categories (open category, SCs, STs and BCs) as per the recent amendments. The reservation of mayor's post also has to be decided. After all this is done, the state election commission steps in to announce the schedule and conduct the polls. Any guesses on the timeline for GHMC polls?
(The writer is an MLC and a journalist)