Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 10: State health and family welfare minister, U T Khadar, revealed that a decision was taken at the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday July 9, to upgrade Ullal town municipal council as city municipal council.

"This long-pending demand of the people of Ullal has materialized on account of continued efforts and sustained follow up action undertaken by people's representatives and officials. Ullal will emerge as the first ever city municipality of Dakshina Kannada district. This transformation will take once the government issues orders to that affect," he said.

Khadar said that there have been demands from several town municipalities in the state for being upgraded as city municipalities. He said that the cabinet meeting decided to upgrade in the first phase, eight town municipalities as city municipalities, and that Ullal happens to be one among them. He predicted that this upgradation will help Ullal to achieve all-round progress at a faster pace.

"The demand for this upgradation is backed by sustained efforts and struggles for the last three years. Once state chief minister, Siddaramaiah, signs the files, the government will come out with the order converting Ullal into city municipality," the minister explained.

Noting that transformation of a town municipality automatically makes it mandatory to hold fresh election for choosing a new team, he said ammendment to legal provisions would be brought to continue with the present administration even after the said upgradation.

"There will be changes in the administration set up once Ullal town municipality becomes city municipality. More officials will be posted, and the quantum of grants from the government will be doubled or trebled. These additional grants will pave way for all-round progress of Ullal. To make this happen, we need wholehearted support from the peoples' representatives and the people in general," he added.

Ullal block Congress president, Eshwar Ullal, hailed the hard work and unstinting efforts put forth by minister Khader towards realizing the dream of earning city municipality status for Ullal. He also acknowledged that the efforts of the people during the last three years have yielded fruits finally.

Addressing a press conference held on Wednesday in the office of Ullal block Congress, Eshwar also thanked urban development minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, and district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, for their contribution towards getting upgraded status for Ullal.

Chairman of Ullal town municipality standing committee, Dinesh Rai, backward classes standing committee chairman, Dinesh Kumpala, Jamaluddin, U T Muhammed, and some others were present at the press conference.

It is also gathered that the cabinet meeting's decision of allotting city municipality status also applies to Puttur town municipality.