All on paper yet but politicians play the credit game

Politicians’ worldwide just need a reason to throw mud on others, if something good has happened they want to take credit and if it is otherwise curse the other.

Similar is going on in Belgaum now over the bringing the city under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

 MP Suresh Angadi said that he had recently met Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy and requested him to sanction funds for the integrated development of the city. According to him, the city will get Rs 650 crore for projects related to drinking water, roads, beautification, grade separators, drainages, etc. With the projects already mentioned in the budget, Angadi said the works would be completed in a year.  

The Congress MLA from Belgaum North, Feroz Sait, has said that Belgaum was brought under the JNNURM because of the concerted efforts of Congress leaders from the State and Union Minister for Labour Mallikarjun Kharge. He said Mr. Kharge had convinced the Ministry of Urban Development that Belgaum city should be included.

 

A sum Rs.650 odd crores are at stake which if utilized in a appropriate approach can change the look of Belgaum. But as Govt schemes work and are implemented nothing great should be expected. The Congress will take credit and the BJP as well, we as citizens need improvements done that’s it, we have nothing to do with Congress or BJP. 

With inputs from Hindu & TOI.

Belgaum to benefit from JNNURM

Belgaum has been identified along with Mangalore; Hubli-Dharwad for implementation of urban infrastructure projects under one of its flagship programmes Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).  

Urban Development Ministry deciding to extend the JNNURM scheme to smaller cities with a population of over 5 lakh and less than 10 lakh,Belgaum has been selected. The current population of Belgaum is 6 lakhs and cantonment area counts in for another 1lakh 30 thousand. 

Amount to be released by the Centre is not yet finalized but it would be sizeable as the scheme involves several developmental activities such as construction of several flyovers, underpasses, storm water drainages, drinking water supply and beautification of roads. 

The 100 Crore question of Belgaum

For many years the government was not looking into the issues related to development and infrastructure in Belgaum. But off late the successive governments are taking a keen interest in the development of Belgaum which is mainly propelled by the influence and efforts of various organizations. Unluckily none of the politicians from Belgaum have played any role in pressurizing the government; it is the successful efforts of the Organizations that have helped.
The Belgaum City Corporation under different grants has done many road works. Funds from flood relief, 17.80 crores from SFC grant, and 14 crores from World Kannada meet, Special fund before Belgaum's winter sessions. The main roads and other roads works have been completed. In fact some roads have been re-done before the maintenance periods got over.

The 100 crore grant is an additional grant to the BCC for overall development of Belgaum City. The Highlights of the present action plan is only on Roads, more than 90% of the grant is to be utilized for Roads and the remaining 10% for drains and electrical works.

See earlier post related to this here.
Why have they not considered other infrastructure which the city badly needs?
The market area needs multi level parking, Widening of Roads, beautification of existing parks, Amusement parks, under passes(near Court compound and elsewhere), over bridges, Bus shelters, Community Halls, etc. The development of city does not only mean building roads. We also need other infrastructure in place.
When people demand for infrastructure Corporation officials & authorities say there are no funds, but when funds are available they are misutilized for wrong purposes. How many times to do they want to build the same roads again and again?
The proposed action plan was planned by private engineers it is said. The corporation has not bothered to see if the road works proposed in this action plan are due for work or they are still in the maintenance period.
The Karnataka Rakshane Vedike is demanding to stop the tendering process and scrap the existing action plan and come up with a new comprehensive action plan which provides opportunity for:
Construction of multi level parking
Widening of Roads
Beautification of existing parks
Amusement parks
Under passes (near Court compound and elsewhere)
Over bridges
Bus shelters
Community Halls

Before the action plan is re proposed they should have a meeting of all organizations and take their opinion and they should have some professional urban planning firms to advice and overlook on the works.
The KRV was protesting with the same at the Corporation office, but to my surprise no one covered the news. I have no idea why this is so? I am just doing this after getting inputs from KRV and I guess what they have stated is correct, Why only roads build other infrastructure also using those 100 crores. The KRV added that the above mentioned infrastructural developments are only a few which the city needs, there could be many more.
It was also felt that the citizens of Belgaum should come together under a common platform for the development of Belgaum. All the citizens’ forums working in the city and the public at large should take keen interest in the development of the city.
I request readers to comment on this and debate heavily; after all it’s our own tax payer’s money that will be utilized here again.

Belgaum session will be historic

The session in Belgaum will be a historic one providing constructive reformation to North Karnataka.
The agenda mostly would be surrounding the problems and projects of North Karnataka though issues concerning the entire State would also will be discussed.
Arrangements for holding the Session were on at a brisk pace.
Tight security will be provided during the session. The State Government had released Rs 10.48 crore for the session. This included repairing roads and other infrastructure.
As already covered by the blog, the infrastructure improvements are on a brisk pace. The standard may not be good but to suffice for the moment it’s a boon to the city.
All those Highmast lamps installed last year which were never looked after are now being repaired, another good sign. Tough the street lights in many areas don’t glow in the night.
The work on the international stadium near Kanbargi has caught pace (Source: shoutbox on site) which is indeed a good thing.
The opposition congress is against this session, if it was the BJP in opposition it would have done the same thing so opposition is opposition.
But all those coming into Belgaum from 10th January till 24 January be very particular about your hotel booking and train booking you might not get it easily, especially hotel bookings.
Source: http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20090104/1144197.html

Belgaum Mayor seeks infrastructure fund

Source The Hindu
Requests Chief Minister to speed up establishment of Apparel Park