Expenditure on Assembly session still not disclosed

It is almost a month for the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature was organized in Belgaum, but the expenses incurred have still to be announced.

Deputy Commissioner J. Ravishankar had promised to ensure complete transparency and declare details of expenses incurred within a few days after the session.

He is on leave and undergoing treatment in Bangalore.

The district administration would announce the details to the public soon.

Source: The Hindu

Belgaum media coverage: 17-01-09

Belgaum media coverage: 17-01-09
Gays to present demands to CM- Times of IndiaGay community members plan to appeal to the Yeddyurappa government to treat them on equal terms and help them live a dignified life.
Sena warns of snapping ties with BJP over boundary row- PTIMounting pressure on its ally over the border row issue, the Shiv Sena today warned BJP that it would snap ties with it if its government in Karnataka continued to "torture" Marathi-speaking people.
CM STAYS BABUS' IDEA OF FLYING DAILY – Star of Mysore onlineB.S. Yeddyurappa is learnt to have stalled the idea of senior officers in travelling daily by air from Bangalore to Belgaum to attend the joint legislature session being held there. The session will be on for eight days and staying so long in Belgaum was a tough proposition, with the facilities created being not up to the standard expected. Added to that, the city had scarcity of good accommodation, felt the top brass.
History repeats itself at Belgaum- ExpressBuzz
It was a typical winter morning in Belgaum, only the city was decked up with posters of BJP leaders and thousands of saffron flags — the Belgaum session got under way on Friday.

Plans will be revealed during Budget- Express BuzzB S Yeddyurappa defended the Governor’s speech to the joint legislature session on Friday, which did not have any information on major programmes planned, saying that the government thought it would be better to announce the programmes in the budget, instead of announcing it in the Governor’s address.

Siddu issues another deadline to Congress- Express BuzzDisgruntled Congress leader Siddaramaiah has done it again. He has set a deadline of January 25 for the Congress high command to accord him a suitable position to match his stature. In the past also he had set a deadline for the Congress, which the high command ignored, following which he decided to stay away from the bypoll campaign.

Forget recession, govt promises the moon - Express Buzz
The economic slowdown will not deter the government from continuing developmental works in the state, said Governor Rameshwar Thakur while addressing the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature on Friday. The money will be made available from within the framework of the Fiscal Responsibility Act

Kunda Nagri, Belgaum gone saffron with BJP hoardings

Belgaum second capital unlikely

The BJP government in the State seems to be in no mood to accord the ‘second capital’ tag to the border town of Belgaum, which has been a long-cherished dream of the people of the district.

Now, Belgaumites have to be satisfied with just being host to the winter sessions of the Legislature.The government has dropped the idea citing technical reasons.

Should Belgaum be declared the second capital? Several divergent views have been expressed on the issue.

I will pressurize the government to declare Belgaum as the second capital. According second capital status to Belgaum will help development of north Karnataka. All these days development has happened only in and around Bangalore. So it is very essential.
Prabhakar KoreBJP MLC

Belgaum has grown tremendously in recent years. It is getting what it wanted. Mini Vidhana Soudha has become a reality with the land being acquired for it. Every year winter session will be held here.A circuit bench of the High Court has been set up at Dharwad, just about 75 kms away from Belgaum. The city has a host of good educational and medical institutions. Next to Bangalore, Belgaum boasts of providing quality education. The city has an airport which will be expanded soon. Sugar industry is vibrant. A superfast train can be introduced from Belgaum to Hubli.For me, Belgaum is a 'happening city' and I am happy with it. This is exactly what we wanted. A city need not be declared as a capital but it should grow the way a capital should develop. Bangalore is choking with both human and vehicle population. Development has to shift to other cities. Declaring Belgaum as second capital will pave way for similar demand by people of Gulbarga.
In the years to come, the states are bound to be reorganized. The Kolhapur division comprising Sangli, Ratnagiri, Karad, the Belgaum division comprising old Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Karwar, parts of Mangalore and Goa would form a new state with Belgaum as the capital. The population in all cities is growing. The Kolhapur division is far away from Mumbai. Goa is facing elections frequently. Belgaum is growing in a systematic way and it has a mix of people speaking various languages. I am sure that Belgaum will be the ideal choice for a state's capital.
Umesh KattiBJP MLA & Minister
About six years ago during the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, I had raised the demand to accord second capital status to Belgaum. In fact, the Sammelan had passed a resolution to this effect. Even today I hold the same view.Some years ago we were forced to assert that Belgaum belongs to Karnataka as the boundary dispute aggravated.Because of our consistent demand, the government is holding the legislature session for the second time in Belgaum. Officials are now not in a position to ignore Belgaum just because it is far away from the capital. The city, though not an official second capital, has acquired somewhat identical status with hosting Assembly session. Activities will shift from Bangalore to Belgaum once the mini Vidhana Soudha is constructed.There is a need to decentralise power. Bangalore is congested and Belgaum is the best alternative though Mangalore is the 'commercial capital'. In the coming session, I am going to press for declaring Belgaum as the second capital.
Dr M P Nadagouda,MLC

It is not possible to officially declare second capital. The Constitution does not allow States to have second capital.
B V Acharya, former Advocate General
Source: Deccan Herald Story 1 & 2 here

Karnataka gives politicians chance to revive border row:Belgaum Media Coverage

This bit of news seems to be a continuing coverage of PTI of the issue.
I am posting this on this blog as the same will be covered by the national media, and the manner in which it is covered is important to us. But I personally liked the heading of the post (Karnataka gives politicians chance to revive border row).

Karnataka's decision to hold an assembly session in Belgaum from January 16, has given politicians a fresh opportunity to rake up the long standing border dispute with Maharashtra which is now pending with the Supreme Court.The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and some Maharashtra politicians such as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chagan Bhujbal have for long been agitating to realise their demand for merger of 856 villages and towns of Karnataka, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani with Maharashtra.However, MES failed to win a single seat in the Marathi-dominated areas in last year's assembly elections and the emotive appeal of the issue seems to have lost traction with the younger generation of Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka.Bhujbal, one of the leading lights of the agitation in the '80s, however, told PTI it was wrong to say the movement has lost its relevance just because the MES is not in control of the Belgaum municipality and was without representation in the Karnataka Assembly.While MES believes the Karnataka move is aimed at thwarting their "just" struggle, Karnataka, sees the session as an opportunity to remove the feeling of alienation among the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum and at the same time assert its right over the city.This will be the second time when a Karnataka assembly session will be held in Belgaum. Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had decided to hold the first one at the end of 2007 while announcing that Belgaum would be developed as the second capital of Karnataka and Rs 100 crore would be spent for its development.The delay in arriving at an amicable solution to the boundary row was due to political and electoral interests of national parties in both the states, Bhujbal said."Delay is inevitable, but justice is important. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court and the State Government is pressing for an early solution," he added.Maharashtra has a rightful claim over Belgaum and other areas on the basis of language and geographical continuity, said Bhujbal.Even as the dispute awaits the Supreme Court verdict, pro-merger Marathi politicians are hopeful that justice will be done and the court's judgment will go in their favour.
Source: http://newsx.com/story/41455

Belgaum Legislative Assembly session 2009 website

To get all the details of the entire Belgaum Legislative Assembly session 2009, visit http://belgaum.nic.in/session-09.html
At the moment the various details like, Accommodation, Maps etc have been mentioned.
All is in Kannada and in Flash mode.
The site will be updated daily and you can get a host of information from the site. I will also be following the same here. Even photographs and detailed materials as to what happened in the day will be posted on the same place I guess.
But instead of only one person seeing the site, I thought it will be nice if you all see it and give me news bites.

Treats waiting for the MLAs in Belgaum

The joint session of the Karnataka legislature will being from the 16th and a host of cooks about 100 will be coming in to treat them with some wonderful dishes.
Rotis and Yenne Badnikai pallya (a brinjal preparation), kunda of Belgaum, khardant and ladakki undi of Gokak and pedhes of Dharwad will make up the sumptuous fare. There would also be North Indian and Chinese cuisine for VVIPs who prefer it that way. As many as 120 hotel management students of the KLE Society’s Hotel Management College of Bangalore will be assisting the main cooks.
The legislators can keep themselves occupied: Tea and newspapers for the legislators in their rooms in the morning, gym at the JNMC Campus or yoga at the Yoga Centre.

Badminton and lawn tennis courts have also been erected for the sporty ones. A team of doctors from KLE Hospital would visit the MLAs every day. Live telecast of the session has been arranged for the legislators who just can’t have enough of work.
Belgaum is expecting over a lakh visitors to witness the proceedings as well as to meet the ministers and the MLAs.
A massive shamiana would be erected at the Dental College premises for these meetings. Artists from Belgaum would present light music during lunch time and in the evening for the benefit of MLAs.
Source: Express Buzz

Assembly session preparations at peak

Hardly three days remain for the historic second session of the Karnataka Legislature to begin and the work to build the legislature halls is in full swing.






The Vidhan Sabha will have a green carpet and the Vidhan Parishad will have Red carpet. Almost 80% of the work of both halls is completed and now mikes etc and other last minute work is being undertaken. All the ministers coming in the city are having a look at the arrangements made.

7 bills in Belgaum session

In the 10 day session to be held here 7 bills related to education, civic issues, urban development, law and order will be presented in the session.
Prominent among other bills being introduced at the session is the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Bill 2009.
The session will also see the introduction of the Karnataka Park Preservation Bill 2009 to facilitate park land to be transferred to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) to take up metro rail construction in Bangalore.
Other bills to be introduced are the Karnataka Agricultural Universities Bill 2009, to facilitate setting up of an agriculture university at Raichur, The Karnataka Horticultural Universities Bill 2009 to set up a horticultural university at Bagalkot, The Karnataka Law Universities Bill 2009 to set up a law university at Dharwad, Karnataka Land Revenue Bill 2009 and Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Medicare Services and damage to property in Medi-care Service Institution Bill 2009, to take action against people who indulge in violence in hospitals.
Source: Business Standard

Diversions, Traffic woes and top it on Pilot VIP vehicles

The roads are being re laid and hence the have been blocked from one side and hence the traffic is moving on a snails pace on Khanapur Road, From Cantonment Office towards Bogarves.

I was behind some 30 odd trucks and busses in a line, which were all moving at a very slow pace to the standard of Belgaum. Suddenly to add to all it a loud siren is heard and all look behind thinking it to be a ambulance and to give way to it, but when they see it’s a Pilot car of VIP all just look at him and no one moved.

The pilot car overtook me and went forward even when we all were stranded. The scene was nice when a truck from the front came in and the pilot car was stranded in the middle with nowhere to go. The siren was still on and was very annoying. The pilot car some how managed to make through the traffic and then zoomed out with the VIP.

We elect these politicians and they become VIPs and we the common man who elect them have to suffer.
This scene of traffic woes due to VIP vehicles will only increase in the days to come, especially from Chennama circle to KLE.

Road from Bogarves to Khanapur road (PWD limit near the old age home) has been completed. Now it is a smooth ride.

KRV threatens agitation

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayan Gowda faction) has threatened to agitate if the Government allows the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to organize “Maha-Melava”, proposed to be held on the same day as the first day of the Assembly session in Belgaum on January16.
If they were [ermitted to hold the Melva, then a seprate Melva for the Kannadigas would also be organized, KRV district president Rajveev Topannavar said.

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 session: Congress criticizes: Belgaumites Rejoice

Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Mallikarjuna Kharge today criticised the State government for having called the special Assembly session in Belgaum this month 'in a hurry'.
The duration of the session to be held in Belgaum was very short and should have been 20 days instead of three or four days. The government has convened the session only to fulfill the constitutional obligations which will not serve any purpose.
Governor Rameshwar Thakur will address the joint sitting of the State Legislature scheduled to begin from January 16 in Belgaum.
There will be no question hour during the Belgaum session. Both houses will sit on Jan 17 and take up obituary references. Official business will be taken up for six days from Jan 19 to 24. The houses will adjourn on Jan 24.
No question hour means the problems of the common man will not be raised, which is a must in democracy then why this Natak in Karnatak.
But, due to this session the roads are getting a new lease of life. Buildings are being painted, new High mast street lamps will be put up, about 25 in 10 days time, dividers being put and painted. Traffic signals being repaired and many other such things are been taken up right now in the city.
So this is nice for Belgaum.
Source: webindia123 Deccan Herald

Belgaum Session: 2006 and now in 2008 what city will get

Winter session of Karnataka Legislature in 2nd week of January at Belgaum

CM, B.S. Yeddyurappa said that the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature would be held in the 2nd week of January in Belgaum.

The dates and the length of the session would be declared later.


Even the venue will have to be looked for, but it could be the same KLE hall that had hosted the first ever legislature session in September 2006.

Council Chairman wants session in Belgaum

Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Veeranna Mathikatti today urged the State Government to convene session of the both the Houses of Karnataka Legislature at Belgaum as early as possible.
Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Mathikatti said it had been decided to convene the Legislative Session annually at Belgaum.
A special session of the Legislature was held for the first time at Belgaum, away from Bangalore, in 2006 and was yet to host another session.
Source: http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20081106/1097478.html

Winter session in Belgaum

The State Government will hold the winter session of the legislature in Belgaum, Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for Water Resources, said here on Friday. Speaking at an interactive meeting with representatives of various organisations, he said the Government was keen on start work on the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum, for which the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy had performed “bhoomi puja” in August last year

Source The Hindu