MLA wants separate civic bodies for twin cities

Having separate municipal corporations for Hubballi and Dharwad, and strict utilisation of funds to correct regional imbalance as per Dr Nanjundapa Committee recommendations on the model of funds meant for SC/ST welfare schemes, were among the major suggestions received by the KPCC manifesto committee.

MLA Prasad Abbayya urged the committee to include the issue of separate civil bodies for Hubballi and Dharwad in the 2018 Assembly elections manifesto of the Congress Party, when the committee headed by M Veerappa Moily collected suggestions from the Congress Party leaders in the region.

"The population of the twin cities has crossed 10 lakh. When they get separate funds from the government, more amount would be available for development works," he said. There has been a feeling among many people that North Karnataka region has been neglected in terms of development, and therefore, a special focus should be given for the development of the region, Mr Prasad Abbayya noted.

Akrama-Sakrama scheme is applicable for houses on revenue land alone, and it should be expanded to municipal land and slum board land also, he added.

Former MP Manjunath Konnur suggested Varada-Bedti river linking and Bennihalla development.

NWKRTC Chairman Sadanand Danganavar sought inclusion of 'Sarige Bhagya' scheme in the manifesto, under which free bus pass should be given to all students and Rs 100 crore should be given to the NWKRTC every year.

MLC Shrinivas Mane gave suggestion to announce a scheme to give houses for all houseless BPL card holders.

Free drip irrigation scheme, proper compensation for land submerged for dam projects, loan for farmers' self-help groups, road development in rural areas, graveyard for each village, and other suggestions were given by the Congress leaders.

Later, representatives of industrialists' associations, trade unions and other organisations also gave suggestions to the committee.

Industrial development in the region, establishment of SEZs, improvement of railway network and supervision by the State Government over the railway project implementation, housing scheme for autorickshaw drivers, withdrawal of cases booked against farmers, and speedy diversion of water from Mahadayi basin to Malaprabha river were among the demands.

Ministers R B Timmapur, Rudrappa Lamani, former minister Satish Jarkiholi, and others also attended the meeting.