HDUDA plans to turn urban cess into fund for govt schools

In a move aimed at strengthening public education infrastructure, the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) has proposed earmarking a portion of the urban development cess collected by it for the repair, renovation and modernisation of government schools within its Local Planning Area (LPA). The proposal seeks to establish a dedicated fund exclusively for government schools to address deteriorating in frastructure, including damaged classrooms and unsafe school buildings. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the condition of government school infrastructure in several parts of the region.

Instead of limiting the use of the cess to conventional urban development works such as parks and lakes, HDUDA has proposed investing a portion of the funds in du- rable educational infrastructure. HDUDA Chairman Shakir Sanadi said that construction of a new classroom, estimated to cost around Rs 10 lakh, would create a long-term public asset that could serve students for several decades. Under the proposal, a dedicated committee comprising the Deputy Commissioner, Zilla Pan Officer, HDUDA Chairman and HUDA Commissioner would oversee the alloca tion and utilisation of the funds to ensure transparency and prevent political interference, he said.

HDUDA has jurisdiction over around 714 sq km, covering areas across Hubballi-Dharwad and parts of Kalghatgi, Navalgund and Kundgol taluks. If the authority pools a good chunk of money annually for school infrastructure development, the funds could be used to construct new class rooms and undertake major repairs in government schools across the Local Planning Area. Sanadi said, the proposal has received support from elected representatives cutting across party lines. As many as 12 MLAs and MLCs, including Prasad Abbayya, Salim Ahmed, Pradeep Shettar, Lingaraj Patil and Jakkap panavar and other elected representatives have extended their support to the initiative.

HDUDA is expected to forward the formal proposal to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary after the Independence Day celebrations, he said. If approved, the initiative could provide a new model for urban development authorities in Karnataka to use a portion of their resources for strengthening government school infrastructure and improving learning environments for children in their jurisdictions. “Chief Minister is very keen to develop government schools, he may replicate in other UDAs also, if not, I am confident that this should happen in our limits,” said Sanadi.