Karnataka: Congress urges BJP MLAs to push for separate civic body

DHARWAD: Congress leaders have urged BJP MLAs to press for the creation of a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad during the state legislature session.
Congress functionary P H Neeralakeri said on Tuesday that the lack of political will to bifurcate the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) and create a separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation has halted development works in Dharwad. “The solution is to create a separate civic body for the city which it richly deserves,” he said.
From the past one year, this demand has turned into a movement and many protests, including relay hunger strike, signature campaign and others, have been held. “Unfortunately, there is no positive response to the demand from political leaders,” he said.
Neeralakeri further said that Dharwad has a population of 4.50 lakh and the revenue to the HDMC from Dharwad is over Rs 60 crore. Though the city is being developed as an education hub with institutes of national importance coming here (IIT-Dharwad and IIIT), the city lacks basic infrastructure.
“The roads are in pathetic condition, only 20% of the areas have underground drainage facilities, the supermarket with more than 800 shops is in bad shape due to poor maintenance, and parks are also in bad shape,” Neelarkeri said. Also, delay in the implementation of water supply for 24 hours has resulted in the city getting drinking water only once in five days, he charged.
The important projects in Dharwad cannot be completed with the meager funds given by the HDMC as 80% of funds are utilised for the development of Hubballi, the Congressman said.