Cuttack, Aug. 13: The state government has issued a draft notification approving the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s proposal to create five new wards by bifurcating seven of the existing 54 wards.

The proposal to increase the number of wards to 59, taking into consideration the city’s population of 6.1 lakh, according to the 2011 Census, was submitted on July 31.

“The Cuttack Municipal Corporation shall be divided into 59 wards for the ensuing election of corporators to the corporation and wards,” the state housing and urban development department said in the draft notification issued yesterday.

“Any objection or suggestion which may be received from any person interested in respect of the said draft notification on or before the date of expiry of the period of 10 days from the date of publication of this notification will be considered,” it said.

According to the draft notification, a copy of which is in possession of The Telegraph, five new wards have been created by dividing ward Nos. 1, 2, 3, 21, 22, 52 and 53.

“The process of receiving the objections and suggestions is scheduled to be completed by August 22. The final notification on the creation of new wards and reservation status will be issued by August 31,” mayor Saumendra Ghose said.

At present, the corporation has 34 of its 54 wards under reserved category – 11 for women candidates, 10 for other backward classes, five for women candidates from other backward classes, five for scheduled caste members, two for scheduled caste women and one for a scheduled tribe member.

The draft notification has left only 18 of the 59 wards unreserved.

While 30 wards have been reserved for women candidates, 17 of them are reserved for general category women candidates, eight for backward class women candidates, four for scheduled caste women and one for scheduled tribe women.

Besides, eight are reserved for backward class members and three for scheduled caste members.

The draft notification showed creation of three new wards by reorganisation of Satichoura, Jyoti Vihar, Bentkarpada, Tangarhuda and portions of Markat Nagar (Sector 6 and 7) in ward No. 3, Bidanasi Kumharsahi, Bidanasi Gopalsahi and Nuasahi in ward No. 1 and Mundasahi, Brajabiharipur, Bidyadharpur, Sandhapur and portions of Markat Nagar (sector 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) in ward No. 2.

Details in the notification indicated creation of a new ward by shuffling ward No. 23 composed of Kathagada Sahi, Kumharsahi, Nima Sahi, Biscuit Company Lane, Harijan Sahi, Bhagatpur and Tarachand Patana and ward No. 21 constituting Town Bisnabar, Kesharpur, Rausapatna New Colony, Haripur, Samanta Sahi and Dolamundai.

Another ward has been created by splitting ward No. 52 (Subhadrapur, Uttamapur, Amaniapatana, Harijansahi, Uttar Behera Sahi, Kazi Patana, Tala Sahi, Muslim Sahi, Indira Colony, Tentulinali, Totasahi, Sri Koruan, Gopalpur, Vimpur, Behera Sahi, Maa Tarini Vidyapitha, Badhei Sahi, Shyam Sundarpur, Bhoi Sahi, Rajnagar Patana, Balikuda, Samal Sahi, Mallick Sahi, Diha Sahi) and 53 (Bhanpur, Pratapnagari, Dahaliabag, Bhanpur High School, Harijan Sahi, Nuagarh, Kudasahi, Kumbharajpur, Puruna Nuagada, Sadar PS, Dhakulei Temple, G.P. Office, Khandayat Sahi, Keuta Sahi, Muslim Sahi, Peer Bazar, Paikasahi, Dehuri Sahi).