Let the Government seek a public mandate on Suvarna Vidhana Soudha
11:12 AM Posted by ukmad
From the DECCAN HERALD dt. 10 Nov.2007
Mushrooming of Soudhas: Modern blunders
By Gayathri Nivas
Let the govt ask Kannadigas and Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum if they want a roving Tuqhlak Durbar or development.
Speaking of modern blunders, the latest is the proposed Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belgaum. The previous H D Kumaraswamy Government promised to hold the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature in Belgaum every year and, hence, the plan for a permanent building. The foundation was laid at the 150-acre Tilakwadi Vaccine Depot site in Belgaum city on August 26, 2007. Tenders were called last week.
The reason for a seat of the legislature in Belgaum? To send a clear message to feuding neighbour Maharashtra that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and also to alleviate the feeling of neglect among the people of Belgaum. Both these purposes should be served better through proper decentralisation of administration and devolution of funds rather than holding a brief legislature session.
On an average, the State legislature meets for 50 to 65 days in a year, divided into three sessions of varying duration depending on the business to be transacted. A State law stipulates that the legislature should sit for at least 60 days a year. The longest sitting of the State legislature so far was in 1972 for a period of 92 days.
As it is, the legislature wing of the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, excepting the sections housing the legislature secretariat, remain locked and barred for at least 300 days a year to uphold the sanctity of the premises.
Shifting the legislature to Belgaum lock, stock and barrel every winter would mean keeping the legislature infrastructure in Bangalore idling for another month or so while incurring needless expenditure on travel and dearness allowances of the staff and legislators.
The reason for a seat of the legislature in Belgaum? To send a clear message to feuding neighbour Maharashtra that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and also to alleviate the feeling of neglect among the people of Belgaum. Both these purposes should be served better through proper decentralisation of administration and devolution of funds rather than holding a brief legislature session.
On an average, the State legislature meets for 50 to 65 days in a year, divided into three sessions of varying duration depending on the business to be transacted. A State law stipulates that the legislature should sit for at least 60 days a year. The longest sitting of the State legislature so far was in 1972 for a period of 92 days.
As it is, the legislature wing of the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, excepting the sections housing the legislature secretariat, remain locked and barred for at least 300 days a year to uphold the sanctity of the premises.
Shifting the legislature to Belgaum lock, stock and barrel every winter would mean keeping the legislature infrastructure in Bangalore idling for another month or so while incurring needless expenditure on travel and dearness allowances of the staff and legislators.
Already, Rs 250 crore has been committed in the 2007-08 budget for Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. In fact, a wedge has been driven between the Kannadiga and Marathi speaking people of Belgaum, the former ostensibly being in support of the Vidhana Soudha plan, while the latter firmly oppose it citing the pending Supreme Court case pertaining to the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) MLA from Uchgaon Manohar Kinekar says the MES will soon file a suit against disturbing status quo in Belgaum. But the MES clout stands diminished with just two MLAs in the Assembly from seven to eight in the past.
Admitting a mistake is tough and embarrassing for anyone, especially for a politician. But losing an election is even more unpleasant. Let the Government seek a public mandate on Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
November 12, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Vidhan Saudha must come up at Belgaum
November 12, 2007 at 8:48 PM
No way! Belgaum is disputed territory and majority of public is against any kind of saudhas or whatever.
November 12, 2007 at 11:40 PM
It is good move for factors like regional imbalance Belgaum will get more focused devlopment hence forth, anyway vaccine depot was idle and govt land was of sheer waste , Belgaum would get a new facelift in future I welcome this move irrespect of any interest of kannada or marathi