Ward panels: Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation sets the ball rolling, invites applications from citizens

HUBBALLI: Finally, Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has launched the process of formation of ward committees (WCs) by inviting applications from citizens.
HDMC has published the notification on its official Twitter and Facebook accounts for the benefit of the public. Various organisations have welcomed the move and appreciated the HDMC commissioner for taking this step.
HDMC commissioner B Gopal Krishna told TOI that the notification has been issued as per direction of Directorate of Municipal Administration dated September 23, 2021.“WCs will be formed under Section 13 of KMC Act-1975 in all 82 wards of the twin cities,” he added.
As per the notification, citizens should be the voter of the respective ward and should furnish certain documents.
Though WCs were formed in Hubballi-Dharwad about 15 years ago, they did not last long. Citizen forums like Hubballi-Dharwad Pragathi Sankalp had intensified the campaign demanding the formation of WCs. It had also formed People’s WCs to pressurise the civic body and the government in this regard.
Social activist Santosh Nargund said it’s a welcome move happening 30 years after the constitutional amendment providing WCs (introduced in 1992). “It’s the result of sustained efforts by citizens. Now the ball is in people’s court, and we have to make good use of it,” he added.
However, a group of citizens has objected to the condition of providing a family income certificate issued by the tahsildar. “It needs 45 days to get an income certificate, while HDMC has given just 20 days (to apply). As income certificate is nowhere concerned with WCs, it’s just a bureaucratic effort of keeping many citizens out of the process,” alleged Lingaraj Dharwad Shettar, co-convenor of HDMC Citizens’ Ward Committee Campaign Forum.
How to apply
Citizens can download the forms from the ‘What’s New’ section of www.hdmc. mrc.gov.in and submit the filled-in forms by April 25 at the respective zonal office or at council secretary office at HDMC main premises.
Required documents should also be submitted with the application.