Dharwad: The state government finally endorsed the creation of Dharwad Municipal Corporation (DMC) after bifurcating the existing Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) following persistent demand from the residents. However, corporators and legal experts opine that the new corporation may not be functional for another two years.
The HDMC came into existence in 1962. After its delimitation in 2021, with 82 wards, it emerged as the second-biggest civic body after Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike (BBMP). The elections were conducted in August 2021 as per the new gazette notification, and the newly elected corporators took oath as members of the HDMC.
As per official sources, this is for the first time in the history of the state that an existing corporation has been bifurcated. There is no provision in the KMC Act to terminate the remaining period of the elected corporators and go for fresh elections mid-term. Hence, it will take another two years for the Dharwad Municipal Corporation (DMC) to be operational, they explained.
This apart, the government has already made gazette notification for the remaining term of the mayor and the deputy mayor and hence, the existing laws do not allow for the DMC to operate for next two years.
HDMC officials said that the HDMC had submitted its proposal recommending the government for the bifurcation of HDMC as Dharwad had all the credentials to become a separate corporation. Subsequently, the state cabinet has given its consent for the formation of DMC. The process required for setting up a separate corporation will take off shortly. During the first phase, the Urban Development Department will issue notification and a 30-day time will be given to invite objections from the general public, the officials informed.
After the objections are filed, the Urban Development Department will issue final notification. Based on this, the state government will make a gazette notification according separate corporation for Dharwad. The new corporation will be functional only after the existing term of the corporators expires in 2027, they said.
HDMC Commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi said that the Urban Development Department will shortly invite objections from the public and a 30-day time will be set. After hearing the objections, if any, the final notification will be released.
Corporators Shivu Hiremath and Iresh Anchatgeri said that the process of
appointing new commissioner, additional commissioner, joint commissioner (revenue), joint commissioner (administration), chief health officer among other staff will take place once the state government issues gazette notification.
This process is likely to take off after April. The positive note is that Dharwad already has a central corporation office, a renovated general body meeting hall and four zonal offices. Hence, the government need not spend for the creation of additional infrastructure, they said.
Inclusion of villages
At present, it has been decided that Dharwad will have 26 wards and hence, the question of including new areas or villages into the corporation limits does not arise. Though, there is a demand that 18 villages surrounding Dharwad city should be included into the corporation limits, it will not happen soon as the ward delimitation has been conducted in 2021.
10 corporations in state
At present, there are 10 city corporations in the state, the biggest being the BBMP. HDMC with 82 wards was the second biggest corporation but with formation of DMC, 26 wards will be shifted to the new corporation while Hubballi City will have 56 wards. Mysuru which has 65 wards will occupy the second position, followed by Mangaluru (60 wards), Belagavi (58 wards) and Kalaburagi (55 wards).