State Cabinet, on Monday, gave its nod to a proposal for upward revision in number of Zilla Parishad (ZP) seats in Maharashtra. Presently, there are total 2,000 seats in various ZPs in the State. With the revision, this number of representatives from rural areas will rise to 2,248. Though the calculations as per the new formula are yet to be done, it is likely that the number of seats in Nagpur ZP will increase by six to eight. Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister, chaired the Cabinet meeting in Mumbai. State Government will bring a Bill to effect appropriate changes in composition of ZPs in the State, during upcoming session of State Legislature. At present, the number of members in ZPs across the State is in the range of 50 to 75.

 

The minimum number of seats/circles are in Sindhudurg, and the maximum number of members are in Pune district. Now, the State Cabinet has decided to amend Section 9 (1) of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Act, 1961, and increase the number of ZP seats. As per the Cabinet decision, now, the number of members in various ZPs across Maharashtra will be in the range of 55 to 85. That is, the ZP with the lowest population will have 55 members, and that with the highest population will have 85 members. As such, the total number of members in all ZPs will increase from 2,000 at present to 2,248. Appropriately, the number of members in all Panchayat Samitis will increase from 4,000 to 4,496. State Election Commission will fix the number of members to be elected from respective circle/ward through direct elections. The State Cabinet has suggested a formula for deciding the number of seats in each ZP. At present, the total number of ZP circles in Nagpur district is 58.

 

However, with carving out of new Nagar Panchayats, and annexation of some rural areas to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and other urban local bodies in the district, that much population constituting the overall ZP area got reduced. As such, while calculating the number of seats as per the new formula, the fresh population size will be considered. Still, according to sources familiar with the situation, the number of seats/members in Nagpur ZP may increase by six to eight. Thus, Nagpur ZP may have 64 or 66 members when the next elections are held as per the changes approved by State Cabinet on Monday.