HDMC bifurcation not a solution, say speakers at public dialogue
Representatives of various organisations and speakers who took part in the public dialogue on ‘Hubballi Dharwad Metropolitan Vision’ have emphasised the need to remain united
Representatives of various organisations and speakers who took part in the public dialogue on ‘Hubballi Dharwad Metropolitan Vision’ have emphasised the need to remain united as twin cities and stressed that bifurcation of the municipal corporation was not a solution to the problems pertaining to twin city development. In the public dialogue organised by Hubballi Dharwad Metropolitan City Forum at the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday, a resolution opposing the bifurcation of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation was passed along with a resolution on the demand for setting up an expert committee to facilitate the overall development of the twin cities and declare Hubballi-Dharwad as a metropolitan city.
The meeting also resolved to meet the Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister, and the district-in-charge Minister on the issue. Sharing his views at the public dialogue, convenor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Metropolitan City Forum Santosh Naragund emphasised the need to set up the Hubballi-Dharwad Metropolitan Authority (HDMA) on the lines of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024. He said that for facilitating the setting up of the HDMA, an expert committee should be set up to carry out a scientific study. Hescom, City Transport, HDUDA and other government agencies should be brought under the umbrella of the HDMA, and a principal secretary-level IAS officer should be appointed as chairperson of the authority, he said.
He contended that the declaration of Hubballi-Dharwad as a metropolitan city would bring in more investment, employment generation, and improvement of living standards. Vikas Soppin stressed the need to convince the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister on the issue through united efforts. Entrepreneur Jagadish Hiremath claimed that 99% of residents of the twin cities were against the bifurcation of the municipal corporation, which was being done at the insistence of some persons. Several participants suggested launching a public awareness campaign against the bifurcation, staging demonstrations, organising protest meetings, distributing informative pamphlets and various other solutions.
Convenor Arun Charantimath, co-convenors Kiran Sambrani, Lingaraj Dharwadshettar, mayor Hanumanth Dambal, entrepreneur Prakash Patil and others were present.
The BriefWire