The elections of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) may run into rough weather if the State Government insists that it should be conducted on the basis of the database of Census 2011.
BMC had submitted the details of the delimitation and reservation of wards in the city based on the database of Census 2001, in March.
However, the report was withdrawn by BMC as corporators argued that running the corporation based on Census 2001 database was becoming increasingly difficult due to the increasing population.
But, the problem is that even though the report of Census 2011 has been
made available by the Census office, the State Government is yet to receive the details of the Enumeration Block Wise (EB) population figures.
The EB population figures are mandatory for preparation of the delimitation data for the city.
In a letter, the Housing and Urban Development (H & UD) Department had told the State Election Commission (SEC) that it was hopeful of getting the EB data within a week.
The Department had also mentioned that the Department would complete the process of delimitation and reservation of wards for BMC within 55 days of receiving EB data.
But a senior SEC official said under normal circumstances, preparation of delimitation and reservation database takes at least six months and BMC is running out of time.
The tenure of the current corporation of BMC will end four months from now on December 9, 2013.
“The preparation of the delimitation and reservation database ideally takes two months and the preparation of the electoral roll by SEC takes another three months,” said the official.
The election of BMC Mayor has to be completed before December 9, otherwise the corporation will remain without a head till the election process is over.