The long-standing issue of dividing the Belagavi district has seen a renewed push for the creation of seven new taluks. Currently, Belagavi is the largest district in Karnataka, with 15 taluks. A decade ago, the district had just 10 taluks, but five towns have been granted taluk status since then. However, these new taluks still lack essential infrastructure, including administrative buildings. As the demand for additional taluks grows, pressure is mounting on the government to grant taluk status to seven other locations.
A major focus is on splitting Belagavi city taluk into two—Belagavi Urban and Belagavi Rural—due to the growing population, which stood at 4.8 lakh in the 2011 census. Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, representing Belagavi Rural, has advocated for this division.
Another longstanding demand is for Sankeshwar, a major town on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, to be granted taluk status. With a population exceeding 40,000, Sankeshwar is larger than Hukkeri, its current taluk headquarters. The distance from Sankeshwar to Hukkeri is about 50 km, highlighting the need for administrative autonomy.
Similarly, the residents of Koujalagi in Mudalagi taluk have been requesting taluk status for years. Several committees have recommended the move, yet it remains unresolved. Harugeri, in Raibag taluk, is another town that is increasingly seen as deserving of taluk status, especially as it grows into an educational hub for the surrounding areas.
In Athani taluk, towns like Aigali and Telsang, both located near the border, have been in discussions with authorities for some time. Telsang, in particular, is situated about 50 km from Athani, further emphasizing the need for its administrative division.
District Minister Satish Jarkiholi recently stated that the issue of dividing Belagavi district would only be considered once the demands for new taluks were addressed. Various organizations representing towns seeking taluk status are planning protests during the upcoming winter assembly session in Belagavi next month to draw the government’s attention to their cause.
The towns pushing for taluk status include Belagavi Urban and Belagavi Rural (from Belagavi taluk), Sankeshwar (from Hukkeri taluk), Koujalagi (from Mudalagi taluk), Harugeri (from Raibag taluk), and Aigali and Telsang (from Athani taluk).
