BELGAUM: Nearly 42 villages of Maharashtra located on border demanded their secession to Karnataka as they claimed that Maharashtra government has neglected development in the area.
Maharashtrians from Belgaum, Khanapur and Nippani are fighting to be a part of Maharashtra for about half a century.
“There is no development here and the government officials are not taking any interest in providing us basic facilities,” said president of Agriculture Produce Marketing Society of Sangli Mahadev Ankalagi.
These 42 villages, which are dominated by Kannadigas, are located in Jat taluk adjacent to the Maharashtra-Karnataka border.
Umadi, Madgyal, Umarani, Muchandi, Sonyal, Balgav, Basaragi, Jadarboblav, Utagi, Guddapur, Suslad, Sonalagi, Borgi, Sindhur, Nigadi budruk, Ankalagi, Kudalwadi, Lakadewadi, Hospete, Sordi, Badachi, Rawal gundwadi, Untawadi, Gugwad, Jalihal, Siddanath, Badchitanda, Sankh, Karwadi, Dhul Karewadi, Asangi, Asangiturk, Konbargi and Karjagi, are some of the villages which wish to be a part of Karnataka.
Ankalagi said that next week a meeting with sarpanchs of 42 villages has been convened at Sangli to pressure the government to either give facilities or allow the villages to merge with Karnataka.