DHARWAD: With the state cabinet finally deciding to bifurcate Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation and create a separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation (DMC), the process of getting a separate civic body for Dharwad has been set in motion.
The residents of Dharwad who were demanding a separate municipal corporation for the city for the last two decades citing discrimination in taking up development works are elated over the cabinet decision and expect the new DMC to be functional soon. However, the procedures and laws do not allow the new DMC to be functional immediately. Experts say it will take at least two-three years for the new DMC to be functional.
The HDMC came into existence in 1962 with 67 wards. After the delimitation of wards in 2021,the number of wards under the HDMC rose to 82 with Hubballi division having 56 and Dharwad division 26.
HDMC emerged as the second-biggest civic body after Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). After delimitation, the elections to HDMC were held in Aug 2021 and the term of the present body ends in Aug 2026.
As per official sources, this is for the first time in the history of the state that an existing corporation has been bifurcated. There is no provision in the KMC Act to terminate the remaining period of the elected corporators and go for fresh elections mid-term.
“We will have to wait till the term of the present corporators ends,” said an official.
“This apart, govt has already made gazette notification for the remaining term of the mayor and the deputy mayor and hence, the existing laws do not allow for the DMC to become operational immediately,” he pointed out.
There are formalities to be observed before the new DMC is created and becomes functional. As a first step, the urban development department will issue notification and a 30-day time will be given for the public to submit objections, if any. After this, the urban development department will issue another final notification and the state govt will issue gazette notification on creation of DMC.
At present, it has been decided that Dharwad will have 26 wards and hence, the question of including new areas or villages in the corporation limits does not arise. Though there is a demand that 18 villages surrounding Dharwad city be included in the DMC limits, it will not happen soon as the ward delimitation has been conducted in 2021.
HDMC commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi said the urban development department will shortly invite objections from the public.
Dharwad already has a central corporation office, a renovated general body meeting hall and four zonal offices. Hence, govt need not spend for the creation of infrastructure.
