The Hindu               03.01.2014

Bijapur gets Corporation status

Over a century old Bijapur City Municipal Council (CMC)
has finally got the status of Corporation following the government
issuing notification to this effect in the last week of December.

The
decision to upgrade Bijapur city to Corporation was making the rounds
during the BJP government, however it could not take final shape owing
to various reasons.

During the Congress regime, the
announcement was made in the budget to convert the CMC into a
Corporation by expanding the city limits with the inclusion of more
wards.

Following the order, the CMC authorities have already got the board at the CMC entrance gate to read Bijapur City Corporation.

According
to sources, the Bijapur city, which falls under cities of schedule-A,
has a population of more than 3 lakh, the annual revenue of the city
from various sources was more than Rs. 6 crore and employment generation
apart from agriculture was no less than 50 per cent.

The new wards scheduled to be added are: Bhutanal, Afzalpur, Rambhapur, Darga, Mahalbagayat, and Kasaba.

Meanwhile,
sources say that the survey work to add more wards had been ordered to
increase the strength of wards from the present 35. More wards would be
added based on the areas that have population no less than 3,36,368.

Sources say that the strength of wards is expected to reach 52 after the creation of new wards.

Since
fresh elections as per the order of the government should be held
within six month after up gradation of the CMC, the survey work had been
taken up on war footing to reorganise and create new wards in the city.

After the elections, the members would be called corporators and the president would be called mayor.

With
the increase in workforce and administration following the upgradation,
the CMC needs bigger building to house more offices, for which, the CMC
is reportedly contemplating of converting the CMC’s convention hall at
Bagalkot road into the new office premises as the building has adequate
space.

A task that lies before the district
administration is to ensure city transport facility to all new wards,
proper supply of electricity, roads, sanitation, and providing other
civic amenities.