Mangaluru : The government has upgraded Kotekar and Vitla gram panchayats in Dakshina Kannada as town panchayats. Objections, if any, to the gazette notification, issued on April 30, can be submitted to the Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, ninth floor, V.V. Towers, Bengaluru, in a month.

A Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat official said a town panchayat is eligible for more development funds. The annual fund varies.

Population

Town panchayat population should be between 10,000 and 20,000; and population density not less than 400 per sq km.

The percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities should not be less than 50 per cent of the total employment.