1378 new wards to be formed in panchayats in state

Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 1378 wards will be newly formed in the gram panchayats in the state through reorganisation. It has been decided to reorganise the wards on the basis of the 2011 census. The number of wards will increase by at least one in majority of the local bodies.

The cabinet decided to issue an ordinance amending the Kerala Panchayati Raj Act and the Kerala Municipality Act for this purpose. The Department of Local Self Government prepared a list of the panchayats that need to be reorganised. The reorganisation is done proportionate to the population.

The Governor has not yet granted permission for the reorganisation. Meanwhile, UDF has come up alleging that the ward reorganisation is planned with political motives. There were 15,962 wards in 941 panchayats in 2015. This will rise to 17,340 wards after reorganisation.

One ward will be increased in 489 panchayats, two wards in 302 panchayats and three wards in 83 panchayats. Four wards will be increased in nine panchayats. Munnar, Devikulam and Peerumedu panchayats will lose one ward each. Also ward reorganisation will not take place in 55 panchayats.