Bhatkal set to officially become ‘Mini-city’ after no objections raised to CMC upgrade proposal

Bhatkal: 29 November, 25 (Bhatkallys News Bureau)  The proposal to upgrade Bhatkal Town Municipal Council (TMC) into a City Municipal Council (CMC) has effectively received final clearance, as the one-month period given for the public to raise objections has ended without a single objection being submitted.

The Urban Development Department had issued a draft notification on October 25 regarding the formation of the Bhatkal CMC and had invited objections within 30 days. Though BJP leaders in Bhatkal had addressed a press conference soon after the draft was published and strongly opposed the proposal, claiming that only Muslim-majority areas were being included, no written objections were filed with the department.

As no formal objections were received, the department has now finalised the proposal to declare Bhatkal a City Municipal Council.

According to available information, efforts to upgrade Bhatkal TMC to a CMC have been underway since 2015, as the town has a population of more than 60,000. The Urban Development Department issued the final notification on November 20. Under the new CMC structure, Bhatkal TMC, Jali Panchayat and Heble Gram Panchayat will be merged. The newly formed Bhatkal CMC will be classified as a “Mini City” and will cover a total area of 22.67 square kilometres.

District in-charge minister Mankal Vaidya had earlier written to the Urban Development Minister on January 12, 2025, pointing out that as per the 2011 Census, Bhatkal had 32,000 residents, Jali 19,000 and Heble 19,000. He noted that the combined population crosses 75,000 and therefore recommended forming a CMC.

BJP leaders had said they were not against the CMC itself but wanted nearby villages like Shirali, Muttalli, Mankuli, Yelvadikavooru and Mavinakurve to be included. However, no written representation was submitted on this demand either.

After the final notification was issued, BJP leader Shrikant Asarkeri reacted saying, “We had demanded the inclusion of Mavinakurve and Muttalli villages, but only select areas have been merged with the intention of favouring minority voters,” expressing the party’s displeasure over the move.