Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation scouts locations to hold GB meetings

HUBBALLI: The HDMC is planning an alternative venue for its general body meetings as the hall on its premises has been found technically unfit for work.
An experts ' committee from the SDM Technical College, Dharwad, has told the civic body that the current hall is unfit to conduct business. " In view of the results obtained by NDT and physical observations , it is opined that any modification to the existing building may render the structure unstable," the expert committee said.
The HDMC, while wards have risen in number from 67 to 82 , is thinking of holding general body meetings at DS Karki Kannada Bhavan at Ashok Nagar, the Convention Hall in New Cotton Market, the Sawai Gandharva Hall in Deshpande Nagar and the HDMC meeting hall in Dharwad.
B Gopalkrishna, the HDMC commissioner, said that in the first general body meeting itself a committee was formed for the construction of the meeting hall, and the proposal with a design of a four - floor building was prepared. Such a structure is estimated to cost Rs 5 crore.
The proposal was sent for approval to the DC, Dharwad, two days ago. Approval for the project is expected soon. Tenders will be floated after that.
The place has been identified on the premises of HDMC, Hubballi , the HDMC commissioner said . " Till the new building is done, we plan to utilise some halls as alternatives in Hubballi and Dharwad, " he said.
Najeer Honyal, a corporator, said a new meeting hall is needed, and the building should have adequate space for all 82 corporators, officials, press, media and people. " I don 't know why the delay was done to construct a new meeting hall by the officials , when there was no elected body ."