Now, Bruhat Mahanagara Palike being mooted for Hubballi-Dharwad

Hubballi: With the ruling BJP now preferring a Bruhat Mahanagara Palike for Hubballi-Dharwad, the issue of having separate civic body for Dharwad is taking a twist. This comes nearly one-and-a-half years after the general body of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) unanimously passed a resolution for a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad, followed by a Cabinet decision. The opposition Congress still favours the previous decision.

State Cabinet has already approved a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad, a notification has been issued, and the Governor's assent is awaited. Some corporators also wanted bifurcation only after the present term of the elected body of the HDMC gets over in May 2027. However, after this year's Union budget was presented, BJP leaders, who earlier supported the bifurcation of the civic body, want it to be intact now, citing the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations under which cities with 10 lakh population and above are expected to get more funds. They say, both Hubballi and Dharwad will be deprived of those funds if divided, as the separate population would be less.

On the contrast, Congress leaders are of the opinion that the process to have separate municipal corporation for Dharwad, which is a long-pending demand, has reached the final stage after a lot of preparations and struggle. They feel bifurcation would bring separate funds from both governments for Hubballi and Dharwad, which would be more than what the twin cities together are getting now. They also express lack of faith in the Centre's new policy.

Based on letters by MLA Mahesh Tenginakai, MLC Pradeep Shettar, Diploma Civil Engineers' Association, Dharwad District SC/ST Pourakarmikara-Noukarara Sangha and other organisations, a subject is being placed before the HDMC's general body meeting on April 30 (Thursday), to discuss about proposing the government to declare the HDMC as a Bruhat Mahanagara Palike. This is expected to result in a showdown between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

For and against

Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya told DH that the Union government introduces new policies but their actual implementation cannot be fully trusted. "We have no faith. By imposing certain terms and conditions, they may deem several cities ineligible for funds. We saw how effective the 'Smart City' project was. The Centre has not provided the funds the state government was supposed to receive. I have asked our corporators not to support the proposal for Bruhat Mahanagara Palike," he said.

Hubballi-Dharwad is geographically huge, and decentralisation is essential for better administration, more manpower, and more grants, he said.

Meanwhile, Leader of House in HDMC Iresh Anchatgeri, said that if bifurcated, neither Hubballi nor Dharwad would have a 10 lakh population, and they would be deprived of the 16th Finance Commission grants meant for cities with populations between 10 lakh and 40 lakh.

"We need around Rs 2,000 crore to achieve a 100% UGD network in the twin cities. Major works cannot be undertaken with the corporation's limited revenue sources. It is better to have a Bruhat Mahanagara Palike, and then major works can be taken up with Central funding. We must think futuristically," he added.