Delimitation process to be completed by 2007: Kuldip Singh

Berhampur, May 24 (UNI) The process of redrawing the boundaries of all Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies across the country will be completed by the end of the current financial year, according to Delimitation Commission of India (DCI) Chairman Kuldip Singh Mr.Singh, who was here yesterday in connection with the Commission's sitting, told newsmen the report would be submitted to President APJ Abdul Kalam after finalisation of the procedure.

The process, he said, has already been completed in 14 states and redrawing of boundaries in two other states would be completed soon.

The Delimitation Commission Chairman, who came here for the first public hearing for Orissa, said the total population of a state was divided by the number of assembly seats to derive a unit.He admitted that there could be 10 per cent deviation in population of each unit.

''We have taken panchayats and blocks as units,'' he said adding such method varies from state to state. The DCI had so far completed public hearing for six Lok Sabha and 41 Assembly segments of Orissa and would hold sittings in Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur for subsequent two public hearings.

Over 180 persons, including MLAs, former MPs and former Ministers from southern Orissa, appeared before the Commission with their grievances.

Nine time legislator and Congress leader Habibulla Khan has urged the Delimitation Commission not to treat Nawarangpur Assembly seat represented by him as reserve seat.

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