Urban areas get 30% of funds despite constituting 40% of population: Karnataka Local Government Minister HC Balakrishna

Municipal Administration Minister HC Balakrishna presiding over a review meeting with urban local body officials from Hassan and Mandya districts at the regional commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Tuesday (September 1). | Photo credit: MA Sriram

Urban Administration Minister HC Balakrishna, who sought greater priority for resource mobilization by urban local bodies (ULBs), said that urban areas account for around 40% of the population but receive only around 30% of funds from the Center and the state.

Mr. Balakrishna’s observation came during a meeting he conducted with ULB officials from Hassan and Mandya districts at the regional commissioner’s office in Mysuru on Tuesday (September 1).

Mr. Balakrishna also directed the officials to create awareness among the property owners to get their properties assessed for getting A or B khata as per appropriate.

He also urged the officials to ensure that the traders of the commercial shops leased to the ULBs regularly pay the rent on the stipulated date. “If they fail to do so, notices should be issued and shops should be closed,” he said, while warning that action would also be taken against officials if rents from commercial properties were not collected due to their negligence.

Officials have been asked to draw up district lists of drinking water and underground drainage works that have been delayed and to arrange separate meetings between concerned MLAs with contractors and officials to resolve the issues.

ULBs have already been directed to set aside two acres of land for the development of residential schemes for pourakarmikas and the work has been going on. Besides, the urban administration department would write to district administrations to reserve five acres of land either on the outskirts of ULBs or in rural areas to provide places for pourakarmikas after their retirement, he said.

Excise Minister Shivalinge Gowda, who also attended the meeting, said that many town panchayats in Hassan district were facing shortage of staff and asked that at least the minimum required staff be sent to them. He said the implementation of the instructions issued by the Urban Development Minister to the divisional level officials would be reviewed in the district level meetings.

In response, Mr. Balakrishna said that officials and staff currently assigned to other departments will be recalled and posted to areas under the Municipal Administration Department that are facing shortage of staff.

In ULBs which have been able to mobilize higher revenue, officials should engage eligible employees through outsourcing as per the rules, he said.

MLA A. Manju, AB Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda, Municipal Administration Department Director P. Ravindra and other officials were present in the meeting.

Published – 02 Sep 2026 0:03 IST