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.