The Chennai Corporation will change the boundaries of 119 of the 200 wards as part of the delimitation exercise. The civic body has sent the final proposal to the Delimitation Commission. The notification of new wards will be made shortly. According to sources, the boundaries of 81 of the 200 wards will remain unchanged even after delimitation in the 426 sq. km. of the city.
A few neighbourhoods have been merged with neighbouring zones to promote civic services for residents who had complained of deficiency in services. For example, Chinna Sekkadu in Madhavaram zone has been merged with Manali zone. “Garbage collection will improve in the area after delimitation. It will be easier for the vehicles from the new zone to collect garbage in the area,” said an official.
The 15 zones of the Chennai Corporation have not changed significantly. For example, the boundaries of just two wards of Tiruvottiyur zone have been changed.
Residents and former councillors who have sent representations on delimitation are keeping their fingers crossed.
Former councillor P.V. Tamil Selvan said residents in a few streets in Mogappair West requested the Corporation to include in ward 91. “Residents say delimitation will improve civic services,” said Mr. Tamil Selvan.
Civic body officials have taken a decision after studying the objections raised by residents to the delimitation of at least 94 wards. They inspected localities to revise the proposal.
Public objection
At the final public consultation held a few months ago, residents’ associations objected to a few of the proposals made for delimitation of 200 wards, covering 426 sq. km. Following the objections, the Delimitation Commissioner ordered regional Deputy Commissioners to inspect localities such as Kallukuttai, Manali and Madhavaram for revising the proposal. After studying the draft published in January, residents, political party functionaries and civil society had submitted claims and objections.
“The number of residents in wards of core city areas will be around 43,000. The population of a ward in the added zones of Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur is 20,000. It has increased to 30,000 in Ambattur and Valasaravakkam.
In Manali and Madhavaram, the population has increased to 15,000 from 10,000. By the time the census is completed in 2021, the wards in the added areas are expected to have a population similar to the core city wards. The decadal growth of wards in added areas is 67% in the period 2001-2011,” said an official.
