Gokarna to be upgraded to town panchayat? Karnataka govt to consider move

Belagavi: The state government has over 50 proposals to upgrade local bodies, Urban Development Minister B S Suresha (Byrathi) told the Assembly where he promised that popular tourist and spiritual destination Gokarna would be made a town panchayat.

At present, Gokarna is a gram panchayat. Kumta BJP MLA Dinakar Keshav Shetty asked the government to upgrade Gokarna to a town panchayat to boost development. 

Initially, Municipalities Minister Rahim Khan said that the proposal to upgrade the Gokarna gram panchayat had been dropped citing criteria. “As per criteria, a gram panchayat needs to have a population of 15,000. The Gokarna gram panchayat has a population of 13,359 as per the 2011 Census,” Khan said. 

Shetty argued that Gokarna, with thousands of homestays, attracted lakhs of tourists. “Gokarna also has an Atmalinga. But there’s no proper drainage system. Vehicle parking, roads and other facilities are inadequate. At a time when the state and union governments are working towards cleanliness, Gokarna should become a town panchayat,” he said. 

This was seconded by BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and other BJP members. 

“If you go by the 2011 Census, Gokarna can’t be upgraded. The government should club 2-3 gram panchayats to meet the population criterion,” BJP’s V Sunil Kumar said. “This will bring respect to the government given the significance attached to Gokarna,” he added.  

Suresha intervened to say that the government has 50 such proposals to upgrade gram panchayats, town panchayats, town municipal councils and city municipal councils.

“These involve population criteria and financial implications. We will upgrade local bodies in a phased manner. Gokarna will be given priority. We’ll do it,” Suresha said.