Angry over delay in formation of separate Dharwad civic body, leaders warn of another agitation

Members of Dharwad Separate Municipal Corporation Struggle and Development Forum have warned of an agitation if a separate urban local body for Dharwad city, in north Karnataka, is not created soon.

According to members of the forum, officers state that the process of carving out a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad is now in the final stage. But if it is not approved and brought into effect immediately, the people of Dharwad will be compelled to launch another round of agitations.

“The State Government and elected representatives must show serious interest in approving the long-pending demand of the people of Dharwad. Otherwise, another phase of protests by citizens will become inevitable,” the forum stated.

“A narrative is being spread that if the Hubballi–Dharwad Municipal Corporation remains united without division, more funds would be allocated. This is far from the truth. In fact, if Hubballi and Dharwad function as separate municipal corporations, each city would receive separate allocations under various schemes, enabling faster development,” the forum claims.

“The proposal for a separate corporation for Dharwad is currently pending at the government level, and that the final notification is being delayed at the level of the Governor for political reasons,” the forum alleges.

According to the forum, in the past, more funds were secured for Hubballi under various schemes. “Even now, with similar intentions, the idea of not dividing the Hubballi–Dharwad Municipal Corporation is being promoted,” the forum claimed. adding, “However, elected representatives lack the foresight to recognise this.”

The statement claimed that elected representatives had failed to acknowledge the discriminatory treatment faced by Dharwad city, and the daily administrative inconveniences experienced by its residents. Unless separate corporations are formed for the two cities, it warned that developmental setbacks will continue. It emphasised that only a vision beyond politics can ensure the balanced development of both cities.