Dharwad needs separate civic body: Mattikatti

Dharwad: Former legislative council chairman Veeranna Mattikatti has urged the state government to take a decision on the demand for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad at the earliest.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said the residents of Dharwad, fed up with the discrimination in allocation of funds and execution of development work, have placed a judicious demand for a separate civic body to the city and are expecting the government to fulfil the demand by November.
He said Dharwad meets the criteria to have a separate municipal corporation as it has a population of 4.6 lakh and annual revenue of Rs 37.3 crore. The agitation for a separate civic body has been going on and the government has remained silent, he charged.
Mattikatti said he would meet the chief minister and other ministers and press for the fulfilment of the demand. The Congress party supports the demand and will actively participate in the agitation, he added.
Congress leader PH Neeralakeri accused MLAs Jagadish Shettar and Arvind Bellad of not responding positively to the demand.