Councillors upset over official indifference

The reported indifference of the municipal corporation officials towards expanding municipal limits in accordance with the comprehensive development plan (CDP) of Hubballi Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) attracted sharp criticism from Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Council members at the monthly general body meeting in Hubballi on Friday.

After a prolonged debate and heated argument over the issue, Mayor Ramanna Badiger directed the officials to prepare a comprehensive proposal after gathering complete data and marking the new boundaries of the municipal corporation.

Former Mayor and Floor leader Viranna Savadi raised the issue during the zero hour of the monthly council meeting and expressed displeasure over the indifferent approach of the officials. He pointed out that while the municipal corporation limits had remained 200+ sq.km since 1995, that of HDUDA had doubled ever since. Although it was required that HDMC matched its boundaries with that of the HDUDA, nothing had been done by the officials despite the issue being brought before the council umpteen times.

Mr. Savadi pointed out that the exercise would help in generating more revenue for the funds starved municipal corporation and once the boundaries were extended, the municipal corporation could easily generate around ₹400 crore as it would widen the tax net.

When a senior officer from town planning mentioned that the draft map of the extended limit of the municipal corporation was ready in accordance with the new CDP but some villages on the outskirts namely Rayanala, Thimmasagar, Mansur, and Yarikoppa were raising objections, Mr. Savadi pointed out that during a joint meeting the tahsildars of Hubballi and Dharwad had agreed to include the survey numbers of these villages under the corporation limit. “What is now required is that the proposal should be sent to the State government for approval and if any village panchayat had objection to it, they will have to make representation before the government as it is the competent authority to decide on the matter,” he said.

BJP councillor Thippanna Majjagi concurred with Mr. Savadi and requested the Mayor to direct the Municipal Commissioner to place the subject before the council first. Consequently, Mr. Badiger gave a ruling directing the officials to place a comprehensive proposal on the issue in the next council meeting before sending it to the government for approval.

Earlier, the council meeting witnessed ruckus twice, once by the Congress councillors and second time by BJP member Mallikarjun Gundur. Mr. Gundur was upset over failure to address the underground drainage problem in his ward despite ₹5 crore being earmarked for the work. Dissatisfied with the official reply on the matter, an angry Mr. Gundru tore the agenda copy, threw away the microphone before him and rushed to the well of the House. Despite objection from the ruling party members and the Opposition, he continued to disrupt the proceeding forcing the Mayor to adjourn the House.

In the morning session, the council witnessed another adjournment following protest by the Congress councillors over denial of land in the corporation limit for building their party office. The BJP members raised objection and said that a similar request by the BJP was earlier rejected by the corporation. Countering their argument, the Congress councillors rushed to the well of the House and demanded the Mayor to clarify. As both the ruling party and the Opposition members were engaged in verbal attack creating confusion, the Mayor adjourned the meeting for a while. When the meeting resumed, Mr. Badiger said that as per the rule laid down by the State government in 2003, no piece of land could be offered to political parties and such being the case, the request for land could not be considered.

During the post-lunch session, the councillors discussed various issues including proposals on works and passed various resolutions.

Published - November 29, 2024 10:21 pm IST