GHMC issues preliminary notification for delimitation of wards

The GHMC issued a preliminary delimitation notification after doubling wards from 150 to 300, inviting public objections. With uncertainty over whether the corporation will be reorganised or split, doubts are growing over the timely conduct of GHMC elections

Hyderabad: A day after the State government issued orders increasing the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) 150 wards to 300 wards, a preliminary notification on delimitation of wards for hearing public objections was issued on Tuesday.

Before issuing the final notification for the delimitation of wards, it is mandatory for the GHMC to seek people’s objections, if any. The objections are expected to be received from the general public at the GHMC head office, zonal offices and circle offices. The details of boundary descriptions are placed on notice boards of all circle offices, zonal offices and GHMC head office. The same was also uploaded on the www.ghmc.gov.in website, officials said.

---

About a week’s time is offered to the people to raise objections. This could be followed with a council meeting to discuss the objections and arrive at a decision. As the delimitation exercise would impact the boundaries and number of voters in the current 150 wards, there are apprehensions among many people. Though nothing has been officially confirmed, there are speculations that GHMC would be divided into 10 zones, 50 circles and 300 wards.

Similarly, there is no clarity on whether the GHMC would remain as one large municipal corporation or divided into three or four corporations. In October 2024, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy had said the State government was planning to divide GHMC into four corporations. However, in December 2024, Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu had contradicted his colleague’s statements stating that there were no such plans.

Uncertainty over GHMC elections

Amidst this confusion over the corporation’s jurisdiction, there are doubts over the conduct of GHMC elections as per schedule. The term of the current council ends on February 10, 2025. As per rules, elections should be conducted within six months after the term of current council ends. Soon after the council’s term ends, Special Officers would be appointed for handling the administration and monitoring works.

Considering the process involved, speculations are rife that the GHMC elections could be delayed. At present, gram panchayats elections notification is issued and this would be followed with municipalities and municipal corporations’ election notifications.