Additional Rs. 25 crore fund for HDMC

HUBLI

The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) received an additional Rs 25 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana (MGNVY). In response, the general body meeting of HDMC decided to prepare an action plan to utilise the newly sanctioned funds. Previously, the twin cities were allocated Rs 127 crore under the same scheme, and the action plan for that amount was already submitted for government approval.
The government initially sanctioned Rs 127.5 crore to HDMC under MGNVY, as it did for eight other municipal corporations. However, the twin cities did not receive a share from the funds reserved for the minister. This led to demands for additional funding. In light of these concerns, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi intervened and successfully secured the additional Rs 25 crore from the urban development Department.
 Previously, Rs 72.5 crore was earmarked for Tumakuru Municipal Corporation, but it was reduced to Rs 47.5 crore, with the remaining Rs 25 crore now allocated to HDMC.
While members across party lines expressed satisfaction over the additional funds, some voiced frustration over not having a role in drafting the action plan. In the previous plan for Rs 127 crore, the works suggested by local MLAs were incorporated, and for the Rs 25 crore, MP Pralhad Joshi's list of proposed works will be prioritised. This left many members feeling sidelined, as they were unable to make promises to their constituents about local projects.

Members from both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress called for revisions to the action plan already sent for government approval. They proposed allocating Rs 1 crore to each of the 87 members, with the remainder going toward projects suggested by the MLAs.