Will Shikaripur, the home turf of former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, be carved into a separate district?
Official sources said on Friday that Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is likely to announce formation of the 31st district of Karnataka on or before the Independence Day. Mr Yeddyurappa, who represents Shikaripur Assembly constituency, has been lobbying for formation of the new district.
In fact, he has sanctioned adequate funds during his tenure as deputy chief minister and Chief Minister to upgrade the infrastructure in his constituency so that it could be given the tag of a new district.
Within a span of five years, the leader has ensured a continuous flow of funds for construction of a building to house the deputy commissioner’s office, zilla panchayat administration building and upgraded taluk government hospital to a district-level hospital, construction of a well-furnished VVIP guest house and a district-level auditorium.
Besides, the roads have been widened, and drinking water and underground drainage facilities have been improved.
The sources said the new district would get Sorab from Shimoga district, Hirekerur from Haveri district and Honnali from Davangere district.
This would be the second division of Shimoga district, the first being when the government plucked Honnali and Channagiri during the formation of Davanagere district in 1997.