Even as the agitation for a new municipal corporation for Dharwad entered the 12th day on Tuesday, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has given conditional approval for a proposal sent by the State government for the bifurcation of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to create municipal corporations for Dharwad and Hubballi.

In his May 26 letter, the Governor has said that after going through the proposal and considering the legal opinion given by the Additional Solicitor General of India on May 25, he has approved the proposal of the State government with conditions.

He has said that since the Article 243 U of the Constitution stipulates a five-year term for elected bodies, the notification of the bifurcation be given effect to after the completion of the term of the existing elected body.

And, in view of the Directorate of Census restriction not to change any existing boundaries of the administrative units until the completion of the Census operations, this notification be given effect to after the completion of the restriction of the Census operations, the Governor has said.

The Governor has also advised the State government to take all necessary steps to make available sufficient financial assistance and revenue distribution for the benefit of both the new corporations.

Based on the instruction of the Governor, Special Secretary to Governor R. Prabhushankar has returned the file to the State government for necessary action.