Plan for future:Mayor Pandurang Patil (right) at a meeting convened to
discuss the proposal for taking up development works to mark golden
jubilee celebrations of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Council, in Hubli on
Sunday.— Photo: Kiran Bakale

The Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation will submit to
the Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar a proposal for taking up
developmental works to mark its golden jubilee celebrations. Councillors
and leaders cutting across party lines endorsed a decision to this
effect at the meeting convened by the Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Pandurang
Patil here on Sunday.

The meeting was convened to
chalk out a proposal seeking funds for comprehensive development of the
twin cities. At the meeting, which went on for close to two hours,
discussion was held on developing interior roads in the twin cities and
need to generate revenue so that the HDMC can become self-reliant.

Opposition
leader in the HDMC council Dasharath Wali stressed the need for a
better underground drainage network, proper interior road, slum
clearance, attracting investors and facilitating establishment of
industries in between Hubli and Dharwad.

JD (S)
leader in the HDMC council Saroja Patil spoke on need for storm water
drains and conservation of environment. Floor Leader in the council
Prakash Godbole said the State government’s approval should be sought
for several pending projects of the HDMC.

While
councillors Sudhir Saraf and D.K. Chavan emphasised the need for
constructing subway at Kittur Rani Channamma Circle, councillor
Raghavendra Ramdurg said arterial roads in the twin cities should be
widened.

Mohan Limbikai, MLC, underlined the need for
constructing flyovers; developing markets in all localities;
rehabilitation of slumdwellers; developing a garden; and promoting the
twin cities as tourist centres.

The former Mayor Viranna Savadi said focus should be on major projects.

MLAs
Chandrakanth Bellad, Seema Masuti and Virabhadrappa Halaharavi,
Chairman of the Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation
Ashok Katwe, Chairman of North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation
Mallikarju Savakar, Chairman of Karnataka Bal Vikas Academy stressed
the need for coordinated planning. Widening of the Hubli-Dharwad bypass,
creation of adequate parking spaces, need for playgrounds and
construction of indoor stadiums, development of approach road to the
twin cities and development of markets at various localities were the
issues raised by them.

Pralhad Joshi, MP, suggested
that the HDMC should come up with a plan to generate revenue through
developmental works. He suggested One-Time Settlement (OTS) for
recovering long pending tax dues, especially from the rich.

Mr.
Joshi said that unless the existing roads were widened, planning for
flyovers was not a prudent idea. He said besides framing a land
development policy, it was necessary to consider housing needs of people
in the service sector.

He suggested taking an
all-party delegation to meet the Union Minister for Urban Development to
urge him to bring Hubli-Dharwad under the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The meeting concluded
with Mayor Pandurang Patil announcing that all suggestions would be
consolidated, and a proposal would be finalised in the next two days.

•  Meeting discusses need to generate revenue so that the HDMC can become self-reliant
•  Widening of arterial roads in the twin cities suggested