Hoshiarpur is all set to get the status of municipal corporation. The tenure of municipal council ends on Tuesday and it is expected that the announcement of corporation and appointment of commissioner would come together. The issue has been hanging fire since long.
In February, local bodies minister Chuni Lal Bhagat had officially announced that by April 13, Hoshiarpur would become a corporation. However, due to technical and political reasons, the decision was kept in abeyance. Sources, however, said that the chief minister had finally put his stamp on the proposal and announcement could come anytime. Previously, the government had conferred corporation status on Mohali, Pathankot, Moga and Phagwara.
There have been two views on whether Hoshiarpur city with just 1.68 lakh population deserved to be elevated to corporation or not.
Not only the local Congress leadership, even the ruling alliance leaders have been divided on the subject. Those in favour of corporation talk about bigger budget and more development whereas the leaders opposed to the proposal argue that higher status would not ensure better management, rather it would put tax burden on villages, which would be included in the urban body.
However, former cabinet minister Tikshan Sud and district BJP president Shiv Sood, who is also the municipal council president, have been vouching for it.
{{/usCountry}}However, former cabinet minister Tikshan Sud and district BJP president Shiv Sood, who is also the municipal council president, have been vouching for it.
{{/usCountry}}Recently, the government had issued notification for 35 wards of the council, signifying that four more wards would be carved out as at present the council is divided in 31 wards. In case a corporation comes up, more wards would have to be constituted as a statutory requirement.