PANJIM: The reservation and delimitation of wards in the 11 municipal councils will be notified on Wednesday and will come with a startling hike in the reservation for other backward class (OBC) from 19.5 percent to 27 percent and bring down the schedule tribe (ST) and schedule caste (SC) reservation. Nearly 33 percent of the seats will be reserved for women.
The election to the municipalities is scheduled on October 25 and the election code of conduct will come into force from September 25.
Director of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) Elvis Gomes said the notification in regards to the delimitation and reservation of wards would be issued on Wednesday.
Gomes said that as per the recent government notification, the reservation for OBC has gone up from 19.5 percent to 27 percent, while the reservation for ST and SC would be based on their population in the respective wards.
While Gomes refused to speak further, sources said that the decision to reduce the ST and SC reservation was taken after DMA observed that there are many municipalities which do not have sizable number of ST and SC residents. “During the last election, the situation was such that people found it difficult in even getting candidates from the ST and SC,” sources said.
The elections to Municipal Councils of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Quepem, Canacona, Sanguem, Pernem and Valpoi are due, consequent upon their term expiring on November 11, 2015.
The increased number of municipal wards has already been notified. As per the notification, the ward strength of Mormugao municipal council and Margao municipal council has been increased to 25. These are ‘A’ class municipalities with a population close to 1 lakh each.
Under ‘B’ class municipalities, Mapusa will have 20 wards, while Bicholim and Cuncolim will have 12 wards each.
The ward strength of Curchorem-Cacora municipal council will be 14, while Quepem will have 11 wards and Canacona, Sanguem, Pernem and Valpoi will have 10 wards each.
