DHARWAD: Dharwad, which is known for being a launch pad for agitations for the cause of Kannada and Karnataka, is now getting ready for another movement, this time for its own sake. Residents of the city, who feel neglected by the development works of the Hubballi-
Dharwad Municipal Corporation, now want a separate municipal corporation.
At a meeting at
Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha on Saturday to elicit opinions on the demand for bifurcation of
HDMC, participants present were unanimous in supporting the move. It was decided to hold another meeting on September 2 to finalize the road map for the movement.
Speaking at the meeting, lawyer Basavaprabhu Horakeri said both Hubballi and Dharwad can develop only if HDMC is bifurcated and Dharwad is given a separate corporation. As a large portion of funds sanctioned by the state government is being utilised for Hubballi, Dharwad is suffering from a fund crunch, he said.
When experts have recommended that the BBMP is divided into five parts, the demand to bifurcate HDMC is legitimate too, he opined.
Congress leader Anand Jadav said leaders of all parties should advocate for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad.
Corporators Subhash Shinde and Deepak Chinchore said it takes almost four months to clear any file as it needs to be sent to the HDMC office in Hubballi. They accused HDMC of ignoring Dharwad and sought people’s support to set up a new corporation for the city.
Advocate B D Hiremath said the movement should be on lines with the Mahadayi agitation and Dharwad high court bench.
Former HDUDA chairman Danappa Kabber said HDMC had a severe staff shortage and officials coming from other state have no concern towards the development of Dharwad.
Former MLA Shivanand Ambadgatti, corporator Raju Ambore, C S Patil, Laxman Bakkai also spoke.
JD(S) state vice-president Gururaj Hunasimarad, who chaired themeeting, said a meeting would be convened on September 2 and several committees with 20 people each would be formed under the leadership of B D Hiremath to take this issue to a logical end.
