Dharwad: With the state govt yet to issue the final gazette notification for the bifurcation of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), the Agitation Forum for a Separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation has stepped up pressure on the administration, seeking an early meeting with chief minister DK Shivakumar.Forum representatives BD Hiremath and Venkatesh Machaknur met minister Santosh Lad and submitted a memorandum urging him to facilitate a meeting with the chief minister, urban development minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and senior officials to resolve the issue.The forum pointed out that governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had accorded constitutional approval for the bifurcation nearly two months ago and returned the file to the state govt. They said Shivakumar had earlier supported the demand and assured the forum’s core committee that a supplementary notification would be issued soon.However, Hiremath alleged that the urban development department had delayed issuing the final notification despite the governor’s nod, leading to growing frustration among Dharwad residents.The forum has submitted five memoranda and several reminders through the deputy commissioner since July, seeking speedy action. “We have learnt that the file has already been cleared by the urban development minister and is now awaiting the chief minister’s final approval,” Hiremath said.He urged Lad to lead a delegation to meet the CM and hold conclusive talks on issuing the notification.The forum also issued an ultimatum, warning that it would launch a 24-hour round-the-clock satyagraha from Aug 21 if a date for a high-level meeting is not announced.Lad said the govt had already decided to establish a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad and attributed the delay to the ongoing administrative transition. He assured forum members that he would take up the matter with the chief minister and work towards fixing a date for final deliberations.
