A wave of happiness swept through Hebri as it has been included in the list of 49 new taluks, the order for which was issued by the State government on September 6. People burst crackers and distributed sweets in Hebri on Thursday. During the presentation of State Budget for 2017-18, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the formation of three new taluks in Udupi district – Brahmavar, Byndoor and Kaup.
The people of Hebri were upset at not being included and members of Hebri Taluk Horata Samiti called a bandh on March 17 this year.
Their demand was that it was difficult for people living in the naxalite-affected and remote villages such as Nadpal and Meggade to reach the taluk headquarters of Karkala, whereas Hebri as taluk headquers would be nearer to them to get their work done. Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, told The Hindu on Thursday that the State government had issued an order for the creation of 49 taluks and the name of Hebri was included in it. “We have already prepared proposals in which we have demarcated the borders for the three new taluks – Brahmavar, Byndoor and Kaup, and also mentioned the need for mini Vidhan Soudha in these places. With the inclusion of Hebri, we will now have to start to do its demarcation,” she said. As per the order, the government had given in-principle administrative sanction for the formation of the 49 new taluks in January, 2018.