HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) general body approved forwarding a proposal to govt for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad.
The long-standing request for an independent corporation received consent from the HDMC general body, with councillors across party lines urging officials to submit the proposal. Mayor Ramanna Badiger instructed the officials to expedite the submission of the proposal.
In 2012, while serving his second term as mayor, Pandurang Patil advocated for a separate corporation to enhance administrative accessibility and foster Dharwad’s comprehensive development. This vision materialised following sustained pressure from citizens in Dharwad, elected representatives, and various stakeholders.
Former mayor Dr Pandurang Patil expressed satisfaction about Dharwad’s prospective independent corporation. He highlighted that this would enable Dharwad to receive dedicated grants and development funds, facilitating the city’s growth and progress.
Former mayor Shivu Hiremath from BJP said HDMC commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi drafted a proposal highlighting that Dharwad meets all required criteria for forming a separate corporation. The assessment confirms that Dharwad possesses sufficient population numbers and demonstrates adequate revenue generation capabilities, along with other essential requirements.
Former mayor Iresh Anchatgeri emphasised the importance of bifurcating the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority for executing development projects in Dharwad. Additionally, he advocated for the incorporation of regions and gram panchayats that contain significant institutions like IIT and high courts into the Dharwad corporation’s jurisdiction.
Raju Kamati, a Congress leader, along with Kavita Kabber, Imran Yaligar, and additional members expressed their support for the HDMC division proposal and requested officials to swiftly submit the proposal to govt. “We are expecting govt to announce the Dharwad corporation in the forthcoming winter session of the state legislature in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi,” said Kavita Kabber.
The municipal body endorsed the implementation of municipal bonds. Several concerns were raised, including the growing number of potholes on streets and the irregular water supply occurring every 10 days in the Old Hubballi region. The mayor instructed HDMC officials to repair potholes using asphalt and cement materials, rather than muharram and other substances.
In the absence of commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi, acting superintendent engineer Vijay Kumar addressed the questions raised at the meeting.
