In 6 months,1.5 lakh go ‘missing’

The Census data submitted in March pegged Chandigarh’s population at 10.54 lakh but the latest figures from the ongoing Socio-economic and Caste Census shows barely 9 lakh people residing in the city.

For the caste census,the city was divided into 2,067 blocks,of which enumeration was done in 2,007 blocks giving a headcount of 8.98 lakh people. With just 60 blocks left for counting,UT Census Department sources said it was unlikely that it will have 1.5 lakh people residing in them.

“So far the results look satisfactory. However,there could be a possibility that some people could have left,as the city has a huge number of floating population. But if the difference is so high,we can re-examine it if need be,” Deputy Commissioner Brijendra Singh said.

Census Department officials said even taking into account people who would have migrated,it was difficult to match the figures.

“It cannot be possible that over 1 lakh population could have migrated from the city. Even if we consider the situation due to the festive season and that the migratory population may have gone back to their parent states,the same number always comes back. There is definitely something amiss,” a senior official in the Census Department said on condition of anonymity.

Sources in the Census Department said it is possible that some of the areas have been missed out,which has led to this huge gap.

The UT officials including the deputy commissioner are holding a meeting on Tuesday with BEL Ltd,the public sector unit entrusted with the task of coordinating the entire exercise,to figure out the anamoly and get the correct numbers.

Besides coordinating the counting progress,BEL also has the mandate to provide hand-held devices,engage data entry operators and train them.