Divide Belagavi district for administrative convenience, says Balachandra Jarkiholi

BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi has written to the Chief Minister seeking division of Belagavi district to create Gokak and Chikkodi districts, for administrative convenience.

“Belagavi is one of the biggest districts in the State. It is too large and unwieldy for easy governance. Division of districts to create smaller ones will lead to administrative convenience, effective governance and benefits to the general public,” he said.

“Belagavi has 18 Assembly seats in 15 taluks. It has 506 gram panchayats. It is very difficult to expect administrative officers to tour the entire district in their short tenures or to conduct their responsibilities effectively. People from far-off places like Telsang, Khanapur, Sankeshwar or Ramdurg have to travel hundreds of kilometres to reach the district headquarter town of Belagavi. The only way to end such problems is to divide the district,” he said.

“For about 40 years, our people have been fighting for the formation of Gokak and Chikkodi districts. As many as four commissions appointed by the previous governments for the formation of districts have recommended division. Elected representatives like us have also been urging the government for the formation of smaller districts like Gokak and Chikkodi. This has been a non-partisan demand,” he said.

“We urge the State government to announce the creation of the new districts in the Winter Session of the State Legislature starting at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi next week. The Chief Minister should make this announcement and implement his decision soon,” he said.