The Times of India              30.01.2014 

29 towns across dist seek municipal council status

KOLHAPUR: As many as 29 gram panchayats in the district, including some prominent villages, have sent a proposal to the state government to achieve the status of municipal council. The self-governing bodies have sent the proposal, which has been moved from the Kolhapur district municipal council department, to receive funds and avail of benefits of the schemes meant for urbanization.

"For towns with such kind of status, funds are flowing through global banks and Union government-sponsored programmes and projects for urbanization which includes developing better amenities, infrastructure and modern facilities for the residents. All these 29 towns have already crossed the basic requirement of population size set at 10,000. The proposal is based on the 2001 census. Besides, in the last 13 years, the actual population has grown further," said Deepak Patil, Kolhapur district project officer.

Speaking to TOI, he said, "There is one municipal corporation (in Kolhapur) and nine municipal councils. Once the state government approves the proposal, these 29 gram panchayats will get the status of municipal council also. Thereafter, the total number of municipal councils in the district would be 38."

According to the economic survey report released last, the share of urbanization in the state is 45%.

The proposal sent to the state government, a copy of which is with TOI, states that Ichalkaranji and Wadgaon (Hatkanangale tehsil), Kagal and Murgud (Kagal tehsil), Malkapur (Shahuwadi tehsil), Jaysinghpur and Kurundwad (Shirol tehsil), Panhala and Gadhinglaj towns have the status of municipal council. Interestingly, Ichalkaranji being a major textile hub in the country has a population of more than one lakh falls under category 'A' among the municipal councils. Other municipal councils fall under category 'B' for having population between 40,000 and one lakh.

"Other places such as Gaganbawda, Hatkanangale, Chandgad, Radhanagari and Shahuwadi where major tehsil offices are located still have the gram panchayat status, even though these towns qualify for municipal council status," Patil said.

He said the process is being delayed due to pressure over the administration and the requirement for tremendous documentation. "Another reason for slow progress is the reluctance of local leaders and governing bodies to adapt to the change in status. Along with more funds and the liberty to utilize it, the maintenance cost of the establishment goes up. The tax structure has to be revamped. Higher taxes are introduced for revenue generation, though it is meant for better amenities," he added.