Gaon Burahs demand rectification of Karsingsa-panchayat map

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A group of representatives comprising of GaonBurahs (GBs), former AnchalSamiti Member (ASM) and Gram Panchayat Member (GPM) from 75th KarsingsaPanchayat segment demanded that the State government must rectify the map creating confusion between KarsingsaPanchayat and Ward no. 20 and issue of dual voting rights.

Addressing media persons at the Press Club here, former Karsingsa ASM, TaniangKipa said that on October 15 2019, by the order notification under Arunachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 2007, KarsingsaPanchayat area was notified under ward no. 20 of Banderdewa municipality.

He added, "Subsequently, we submitted public representation on March 17, 2020 to the Secretary of Town Planning & Urban Local Body. The Secretary assured to rectify the map and also the issue of dual voters but there has been no action till date.

"Surprisingly, the State election commission on November 9 declared simultaneous election of 12th Baderdewapanchayat and municipal election of ward no. 20 without correcting the map."

He further stated that the problem is that though many people reside in the rural area, they have names in the voters' lists in the municipal electorate too. How can a person who is inculuded in the Panchayat area be enrolled in the municipality elections?" he questioned.

Kipa also alleged that some parts of 75th KarsingsaPanchayat segment — areas under the BanderdewaPanchayat and the DobumPanchayat — have been included within the urban area for the ensuing State Municipal election without conducting any public hearing.

"The recent map was never rectified as assured to us at many times by the higher ups. The map was tampered with by the working agency without conducting public hearing and the dual voters' list was also created without any knowledge of the voter," he said, adding that the people had never applied for municipal voter rights but their name has been reflected in that list.

He added that the dual voters' list was created without the concerned persons applying for any addition and transposition. Even the total number of voters which was 400 (approx) in 2013 has almost doubled to 794, he added.

Earlier, there were 30 municipal wards in Itanagar; but later, the number of these wards was reduced to 20.

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