Delhi govt notifies wards and zones under SDMC, EDMC

After blame games between the BJP-led municipal corporations and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government in the recent past, the latter on Saturday notified wards and zones falling under the South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations.

The fate of areas falling in the northern region, however, remains uncertain, as the government has not notified the proposal sent by the North MCD.

It may be noted that the notification comes about three months after the ruling BJP retained its hold in all the three civic bodies in the MCD polls, handing a humiliating defeat to the AAP and Congress.

With redrawing of wards and zones boundaries which have its significance among political parties, both South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) would be able to constitute various committees including standing committee.

In SDMC, the government has redrawn boundaries of 104 wards under seven zones.

Punjabi Bagh, Raja Garden, Raghubir Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Khyala, Manglapuri, Aya Nagar are among the wards where boundaries have been changed, the official said.

As per the notification issued by the Urban Development Department after the Lieutenant Governor's approval, 64 wards have been notified under various Shahdara zones.

However, the Arvind Kejriwal government has not notified wards and zones falling under North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD) as it had recently raised some objections over the civic body's proposal in this regard.

Earlier this week, North MCD Mayor Preety Agarwal had met Delhi Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain, seeking clearance of the file for notification of redrawing of the zone boundaries falling within the North MCD wards.

The North MCD has 104 wards and six zones. Agarwal had alleged that the Delhi government was not allowing the corporation to function due to "party politics".

The Mayor claimed that the proposal seeks to balance the area among zones for better functioning and making the boundaries in justifiable limits for ease of citizens.

For smooth functioning of the deliberative wing of the corporations, it is essential to have statutory committees in place.

In the absence of notification, which authenticates zone-wise details of wards in zones, the North MCD is not in a position to proceed further, Agarwal had said.