Three town municipal councils to be city municipal councils

The State government has decided to upgrade three town municipal councils (TMC) into city municipal councils (CMC) in northern Karnataka.

At its meeting on Thursday, the State Cabinet decided to upgrade Saundatti, Sindagi, and Humnabad TMCs into CMCs.

Among these, the upgrade of Saundatti is seen as significant. The Centre and State governments have pledged ₹215 crore to develop the temple town. The State government has created an urban development authority and the Yallamma temple development board for Saundatti.

“This means that we are getting additional funds, more officials of higher cadre and increased responsibility to implement projects and schemes,” MLA Vishwas Vaidya said in Saundatti on Friday. He said that the CMC will be better equipped to manage the various development projects and expansion schemes, and modernisation plans for the hilltop town.

Saundatti is growing not only as a pilgrimage centre, but also as a major town in northern Karnataka. It lies on the Karnataka - Maharashtra border. It is at the centre of the junction of roads connecting cities like Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Gadag, and Bagalkot. We will need the funds and official machinery to develop Saundatti into a city, Mr. Vaidya said.

The State government has begun the work of decongesting the mountain by removing encroachments and taking up planned development of roads, guest houses, eateries, and animal shelters near the temple. Major changes are being made to the temple complex to enable it to handle large crowds.

Residents came out on the streets to celebrate the upgradation of Sindagi in Vijayapura district on Friday.

President Shantaveer Managuli and vice-president Sandeep Choura celebrated the decision by playing drums, throwing colours on each other, and distributing sweets. Chief officer Rajshekar S. and health officer Nabirasool Ustad, and others were present.

MLA Ashok Managuli said the State government had kept its promise of upgrading the TMC.

The Humnabad TMC in Bidar district will also be upgraded. “It was much needed as the town lies at the intersection of two national highways and a railway line that connect Karnataka to Telangana and Kalyan Karnataka to Kittur Karnataka. It is rapidly getting industralised and needs additional powers and funds,” Rajshekar Patil, former MLA, said.