The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has cemented its new profile with
final ratification accorded to creation of five new wards, taking the
total to 59, by the State Government.

The Government has issued
the statutory notification effecting some changes in the draft
notification on the division of the wards and reservation of seats.

While
keeping the redrawn boundaries to accommodate the new wards in tact,
the final notification has made changes in reservation status.

It
has switched reservation status in seven wards. Ward No 7 has been
reserved for backward class category (BCC) women against the earlier
provision for general category women while Ward No 50 earlier reserved
for backward class category has been reserved for general category
women.

Wards 36, 40 and 59 earlier reserved for BCC women has now
been changed to BCC only as Wards 15 and 19 have been reversed from BCC
to BCC women.

As per the notification, 30 of the 59 wards have
been reserved for women that include 17 general category, eight BCC,
four SC and one ST. Of the remaining wards, 18 are unreserved, eight are
reserved for BCC and three for SC.

The Cuttack Municipal
Corporation had passed a resolution on July 31 on reorganisation of the
wards proposing increase in number from 54 to 59.

Acting on the
proposal, the Government had issued a draft notification on August 12
inviting objections and suggestions from the public.

The procedure being complete, the final notification has been issued.