The number of wards in Munnar grama panchayat, Idukki, has dropped from 21 to 20 after delimitation. This is due to the lack of land available for building homes. Panchayat secretary G.P. Udayakumar says the 2011 Census guided the delimitation. "The absence of proper land for home construction has resulted in families shifting to nearby panchayats, which has led to the decrease in the number of wards in the panchayat," he said. Due to scarce land, the government gave money to eligible families to buy land in nearby panchayats under the LIFE Mission scheme. Many families bought land in Marayur and Kanthallur and moved there after building houses. "The panchayat has allotted 180 houses under the LIFE Mission scheme in other panchayats," Udayakumar added. Officials noted that 18 of the 20 wards are on land owned by Kanan Devan Hills Plantation. Only Ward 18 (Ikka Nagar) and Ward 19 (Munnar Nagar) lie on normal land. Much of the panchayat falls inside the plantation sector, where no free land is available for house construction under the LIFE Mission. An official said, "Ward delimitation is affected because families search for land in nearby panchayats when the panchayat allots money." Sources suggest ward numbers may fall again in upcoming elections. Many voters live in cluster homes (layams) provided by plantation companies, where they cannot build houses. This causes families to shift out. A source said, "The lack of revenue land in the panchayat is also hindering developmental activities in Munnar." Tamil-speaking people form the majority of voters in Munnar panchayat.