RAMALLAH, May 16, 2011 (WAFA) - The number of local authorities and localities had decreased during 2010 as a result of merging localities by the Ministry of Local Government, Monday said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

In 2003, the number of localities was 686 and decreased to 598 in 2005. The number of localities decreased to 512 in 2010.

The total members of local authority councils in 2010 reached 4,214; where 3,651 were males and 563 females. In comparison with previous rounds of the survey, the total members resembles the status in 2008; but differs from 2005 when total members reached 3,790 (3,517 males and 273 females) and 3,779 in 2003 (3,713 males and 66 females).

The number of localities in the Palestinian Territory that have approved structural plan from the Ministry of Local Government increased during 2010 to 353 localities compared to 295 during 2008. All of the approved structural plans between the years 2008 and 2010 are located in the West Bank.

The number of localities that do not have water network in the Palestinian Territory had decreased from 123 localities during 2008 to 109 localities during 2010. The number of localities with no water network was 184 in 2005 and 205 in 2003.

Concerning wastewater network, the number of localities that do not have wastewater network in the Palestinian Territory has decreased from 472 localities during 2008 to 463 localities during 2010, while the number  was 533 localities during 2005 and 454 localities during 2003.

The number of localities that do not have solid waste collection service in the Palestinian Territory had decreased from 99 localities during 2008 to 79 localities during 2010, while it was 166 localities during 2005 and 193 localities during 2003.

M.A.