Coimbatore to establish ward committees and area sabhas

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COIMBATORE, Tamil Nadu: The Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply has issued the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (ward committees and Area Sabha) Rules, 2022, with an aim to enhance local participation in governance and feedback mechanisms on local issues.

The Coimbatore Municipal Corporation (CMC) passed a resolution during the general council meeting, held on Monday, August 29, under which ward committees and area sabhas will be established in all 100 wards. According to the provisions of the rules, the ward councillors will act as chairpersons of the committees and area sabhas. Concurrently, an official from the corporation will be nominated by the council as the secretary of the ward committees and area sabhas.

A ward will be further divided into 10 areas and sabhas will be formed accordingly. The sabhas will consist of registered voters from a particular area in the ward, and the council shall have the power to nominate one member from each sabha to the ward committee.

Both the bodies can recommend and propose projects regarding the development of the ward and highlight the citizen grievances to the council. As per the mandate of the rules, both bodies have to meet once in three months.

As per the statement of M. Pratap, Corporation Commissioner, the local body will release an official notification in the district gazette within the next 15 days after due consultation with councillors regarding the delimitation.