Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 11: Though the wards of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation were increased about six months back, the decision on the same in case of Jammu Municipal Corporation has not been taken by the Government till date.
This was admitted by the Minister Incharge Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies in the written reply to the question of BJP MLA from Jammu East constituency, Ashok Khajuria.
The wards of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation were increased from 68 to 75 vide SRO 288 dated September 2012 when Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand was the Minister Incharge Housing and Urban Development Department.
Despite lapse of six months, the Government has not taken any decision vis-à-vis increasing the wards of Jammu Municipal Corporation and the proposal continued to remain under consideration.
In response to question regarding any date fixed to hold election to the Municipal Corporations, the Minister said, “the Election Department has started the process for revision of Municipal Electoral Rolls 2013 with reference to January 1, 2013 as the qualifying date as prescribed under the J&K Municipal Corporation Election Rules 2003”, adding “after the revision of electoral rolls the process for conduct of elections to Urban Local Bodies will be started at an appropriate time”.