Hubballi-Dharwad Mayor Badiger Presents 9 Development Requests to CM Siddaramaiah

Hubballi, EXPRESS News: During a transit visit to Hubballi before heading to Haveri district for various engagements, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was approached by Hubballi-Dharwad Mayor Ramappa Badiger with an urgent appeal to address nine critical demands aimed at bolstering the development of the twin cities.

In a detailed request letter handed to the Chief Minister, Mayor Badiger outlined the pressing issues and pending matters that require the state government’s immediate attention. He emphasized the need for the government to expedite the review and approval of pending grants and development-related files concerning the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC).

Key Requests Made by the Mayor:

1. Property Tax Settlement: Mayor Badiger proposed the implementation of a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for property tax in Hubballi-Dharwad, similar to the scheme in Bengaluru (BBMP), to incentivize taxpayers and boost the corporation’s revenue.
2. Water Tax Arrears: The Mayor requested the re-implementation of the OTS scheme for water tax arrears, which was previously rolled out by the government, to provide relief to taxpayers. A resolution has already been submitted to the government for approval.
3. Release of Pension Funds: The HDMC has approximately ₹58 crores in pension funds pending release for several years. The Mayor urged the Chief Minister to expedite the release of these funds, which are essential for fulfilling the corporation’s obligations.
4. New Assembly Hall Building: Due to an increase in the number of elected members, the current assembly hall is inadequate to accommodate all officials and media personnel. Mayor Badiger requested ₹30 crores in funding for the construction of a new assembly hall, as proposed to the government.
5. Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme Funds: The Mayor highlighted that ₹48 crores from the funds released under this scheme are still pending with the government and urged the Chief Minister to facilitate their release.
6. Increased Honorarium for Members: Citing the low honorarium for elected representatives, Mayor Badiger requested the government to consider increasing the honorarium for all members, as resolved in the corporation meeting.
7. Lease Property Revenue: The HDMC has 2,745 lease properties, and a proposal regarding their renewal or sale has been pending with the government since 2013. The delay in decision-making is resulting in significant revenue losses for the corporation.
8. Pending Municipal Funds: Out of ₹100 crores allocated to the HDMC, ₹54 crores are still pending. The Mayor requested the immediate release of these funds to support ongoing municipal projects.
9. Solid Waste Management: Addressing the shortage of sanitation workers, Mayor Badiger informed the Chief Minister of a proposal submitted to hire 799 sanitation workers on a contract basis. He urged the government to fast-track this proposal to improve solid waste management in the cities.

Mayor Badiger concluded his appeal by stressing the importance of these requests for the development and welfare of Hubballi-Dharwad.