# Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation

Municipal Corporation of the City of Hubballi-Dharward or Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is the Municipal Corporation responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad, located in North Western part of Karnataka state in India. The organization is known, in short, as HDMC. This civic administrative body administers an area of 202.3 km$^2$. HDMC consists of 82 elected members from four Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Hubballi-Dharwad. Presently the Council is under suspended animation pending election of new members. There has been a huge demand by people of Dharwad to create a separate civic body and get itself detached by HDMC. Claims are that most of the funds are allocated to Hubballi solely.

## Overview

The total area under HDMC is 213 km$^2$. The twin cities are currently divided into 82 wards. Each ward elects a corporator. The winning party elects a council of members, who are responsible for various departments. The council members chose the Mayor among themselves. At present, there are sixty seven members in the council. The Commissioner is the highest officer of Municipal Corporate Office, who is responsible for the departments of public works, revenue and tax, water supply, planning and development, fire brigade, health and sanitation, finance and accounts etc. The current Municipal Commissioner is Ishwar Ullagaddi (KAS) while presently the municipal council is under animated suspension pending election of new members.

## History

Prior to incorporation of HDMC, both Hubballi and Dharwad had their own municipal bodies, namely Hubballi Municipal Council which was established on 15 August 1855 under the Government of India Act of 1850. Its membership was fixed at 18, including the President. The Collector of the district functioned as the President, and the members were called commissioners. The government nominated all the members. On the other hand, Dharwad Municipal Council first came into existence on 1 January 1856. The first non-official President of the Council was Shri. S.K. Rodda in 1907, and Shri. S.V. Mensinkai was nominated in the following year. But the credit of being the first elected President goes to Shri. N.G. Karigudari, who took office in 1920.
In the year 1962, a unique experiment in urban development was conducted by The Directorate of Municipal Administration, Karnataka by combining two cities separated by a distance of 20 kilometers. Thus Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation was constituted.

## Demographics

The population of the twin cities as per provisional figures of Census 2011 is 943,857 and is urban. Hubballi-Dharwad's population increased by 22.99% between 1981 and 1991, from 527,108 to 648,298, and by 21.2% between 1991 and 2001. The municipality covers 213 km$^2$.

## Departments

* ADM
* Election and Census
* PWD
* DoTP
* Revenue
* Council
* Accounts
* Audit
* IT
* Electricity
* Control Room
* Hospital and Dispensaries
* Health and Sanitation
* Spl. Office
* Law
* Water Supply
* HRD
* Education
* Horticulture
* Swimming Pool

## Wards

HDMC had 67 wards from 2008 to 2018
Number of wards was increased to 82 in 2018 and first election post delimitation was held on 3 September 2021 Ward Maps were published in Dharwad district website.
Of 82 Wards, 28 belong to Dharwad and 54 are in Hubli region.
BJP emerged as single largest party in 2021 HDMC elections by winning 39 of 82 seats. INC accused AIMIM for splitting Minority votes and making way for BJP's victory. Mayor's post is reserved for Backward class A category and Deputy Mayor's Post was limited to Scheduled Castes Woman.

## Demand for separate municipal corporation for Dharwad

The citizens of Dharwad city accuses HDMC for biased decisions towards their area and demand for a separate municipal corporation in Dharwad by splitting from HDMC. The demand was acknowledged by Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on 25 August 2021 who opined that Dharwad deserved a separate municipal corporation.
In July 2024 the demand for creation of an exclusive municipal corporation for Dharwad city surfaced again with citizens urging state govt to make an announcement of the same during the monsoon session of state legislature, which was on 15 July 2024.
On January 2 2025 the Karnataka state cabinet declared the separation of Hubballi Dharwad municipal corporation, formation of new municipal corporation for the city of Dharwad.

## Functions

Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation is created for the following functions:
* Planning for the town including its surroundings which are covered under its Department's Urban Planning Authority .
* Approving construction of new buildings and authorising use of land for various purposes.
* Improvement of the town's economic and Social status.
* Arrangements of water supply towards commercial, residential and industrial purposes.
* Planning for fire contingencies through Fire Service Departments.
* Creation of solid waste management, public health system and sanitary services.
* Working for the development of ecological aspect like development of Urban Forestry and making guidelines for environmental protection.
* Working for the development of weaker sections of the society like mentally and physically handicapped, old age and gender biased people.
* Making efforts for improvement of slums and poverty removal in the town.

## Revenue sources

The following are the Income sources for the Corporation from the Central and State Government.

### Revenue from taxes

Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
* Property tax.
* Profession tax.
* Entertainment tax.
* Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax.
* Advertisement tax.

### Revenue from non-tax sources

Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
* Water usage charges.
* Fees from Documentation services.
* Rent received from municipal property.
* Funds from municipal bonds.

### Revenue from taxes

Following is the Tax related revenue for the corporation.
* Property tax.
* Profession tax.
* Entertainment tax.
* Grants from Central and State Government like Goods and Services Tax.
* Advertisement tax.

### Revenue from non-tax sources

Following is the Non Tax related revenue for the corporation.
* Water usage charges.
* Fees from Documentation services.
* Rent received from municipal property.
* Funds from municipal bonds.