Santosh Lad has his task cut out as district minister of Dharwad

Dharwad: Labour minister Santosh Lad has finally been appointed as minister in-charge of Dharwad district and has numerous governance challenges before him.Minister for women and child welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar from the neighbouring Belagavi district was an aspirant for Dharwad but has been assigned to Udupi district.The BJP government appointed ministers from other districts as in-charges. However, the Congress has given the task to Lad, who represents Kalghatagi constituency in Dharwad district.Now that the Congress has a thumping majority, people expect certain critical, long-pending issues to be resolved and the onus is on Santosh Lad to convince the government and get them resolved.The demand to bifurcate the Hubballi-Dharwad municipal corporation and establish a separate Dharwad Municipal Corporation is several decades old. Recently a demonstration was staged seeking fulfilment of the demand. During the assembly election campaign, both Congress and BJP promised to fulfil the demand if voted to power. Dharwad citizens are planning to pressure the government.Resolving the Kalasa Banduri Nala project issue is another key demand of the people in the region. With riparian State Goa creating legal hurdles for the implementation of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal verdict, Santosh Lad has to liaise with the water resources ministry and the Union government to ensure that the project becomes a reality.Extension of 24x7 water supply project and UGD facility to all wards in the twin cities, completion of ROB near Navalur, setting right the lacunae in BRTS service and completion of the road widening work on NH4 bypass between Narendra Cross and Gabbur Cross in collaboration with the Central government are the other major demands of people in the district and they are expecting Lad to ensure that the state government plays its part effectively.Santosh Lad, a third-time MLA from Kalghatagi (earlier, he had been elected from Sandur) was mostly confined to his activities in Kalghatgi constituency and did not have much contact with other taluks of Dharwad district. Now, as district minister, he has the task of ensuring smooth administration through coordination among various departments and effective implementation of all the schemes announced by the government. He will have the guidance of former chief minister and experienced leader Jagadish Shettar who joined Congress recently.
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