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