Belgaum Water tariff hike Update

The proposal to hike water tariff for those getting 24x7 supply under the Karnataka Urban Water Sector Improvement Project is expected to come up for consideration in the next council meeting of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC).


Official sources in the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board said here on Saturday that the Government had directed the local municipalities to fix fresh tariff for drinking water wherever the 24/7 project had been implemented.

This blog was the first put this tariff hike problem. The same has been explained in this story of The Hindu. I had posted this story as the pamphlets were being distributed all over those areas 24x7 supply exists. The proposal still needs Corporations approval & then why is that the Water board is distributing the pamphlets was a question raised by a few residents.
See Original Story on The Hindu

Water Prices increase by a whopping 42%

KUWASIP, the agency in charge of supplying water to Belgaum has increased the water prices for all uses by 42%.

This increase will be effective from August 2008 in the ward where there is 24-hour water supply. The wards where there is 24-hour water supply are ward no.3, 4,5,6,44,45 (full) & 7,8,46,48 (part).

The old rate was Minimum of Rs.83 for usage up to 15000 liters & Rs.5.60 per thousand liters later on.

Now in the new rates, a new slab has been created of 8000 liters.




Liters
New Rate per/1000 Liters
Amount Payable
Net payableNew Rates
Old Rate
0 to 8000
6
48(Minimum)


8001 to 15000
10
70
Rs.118
Rs.83
150001 to 25000
15
100

5.60 per/1000 Liters

Therefore, if your usage is of 15000 liters now you will have to shell Rs.118 versus the Rs.83 you were paying earlier, that is a whopping increase of 42%.

The minimum earlier was Rs.83 and now it is Rs.48 but first it was for 15000 liters and now it for 8000 liters.
When I spoke to a few residents in those areas, all were complaining that this increase is too much.

The water supplied to Belgaum and in some parts of Karnataka is managed by www.veoliawater.com, under the supervision of the water board.

The image is of the pamphlets the water board is giving to all. It was given in both Kannad & Marathi, I chose the marathi one as it was clear & I could understand the matter in it. (I want no confusion or comments on why I selected the marathi pamphlet)

This kind of increase is untold to I believe. In this time of high inflation, this kind of an increase will create more holes in the pockets.
This page may not be correctly visible so see here
Your comments on the increase of prices are welcome.Thanks to Shashidhar Mahendrakar our Netizen Journalist for providing all the info.

Give your old taste buds a new ZAIKA: A new multi cuisine restaurant

Zaika, a multi cuisine restaurant will make its debut in Belgaum on 31 August 2008 at Church Street Belgaum. Zaika intends to offer amenities any typical multi cuisine restaurant does, like a relaxed atmosphere and setting that would indulge many but in an unorthodox fashion.
Zaika, is conceptualized and developed by Ahson Bandukwala. Zaika is a fine dining 70-cover restaurant. Cuisines of all over the world are severed at Zaika and taste here is complimented by unmatched ambience.
The food served at Zaika is authentic Indian food, which draws its tastes from the multi-cuisines of the various Indian states. The mouth-watering food served at Zaika includes peas pulao freshly cooked and simmered with our green masala for vegetarian food freaks.
For Chinese buffs, our master chefs suggest sweet corn soup as a delicable start - it isn’t quite the usual sweet corn soup that you’ve had oh-so-regularly. We have brought in authentic Chinese chefs to give you a taste of real China.
The curries in the restaurant come in the vegetarian as well as the non-vegetarian varieties. The chicken varieties served in the restaurant bring innovation in terms of food to Belgaum by serving never before tasted kebabs like strawberry kebabs - cooked in tandoor.
The salads served in the restaurant work as the digestives. Zaika also intends to cater to the taste buds of spicy food lovers with the lip smacking Mexican snacks.
Chilgoza murg chicken is prepared with pine nuts in a creamy mint sauce - chef’s specialty.
Zaika, Belgaum offers highly sophisticated and intimate settings. The interior of the place has been set with immense window bay windows that overlook the shimmering Church Street, bathed in the mysterious moonlight or the blazing gold of the sun.
The sheer location of the place makes it a great venue for candlelight dinner. In Belgaum, often finding an airy and free space is difficult but at Zaika it is not just airy but you will also feel fresh.
Bottom line, at any hour, if you want the best food, best place and best atmosphere Zaika will surely be an ideal place to visit and give you taste buds a new ZAIKA.

Zaika 97, Church Street,
Camp, Belgaum. Phone: 98455-50695

Belgaum Suvarna Soudha at Halga:Suspense over

A Legislature Committee headed by Speaker Jagadish Shettar has identified a site near Halaga Bastawad near Belgaum to construct the proposed Suvarna Soudha.

Shettar said the site near Halga Bastawad off NH-4 is ideal location in all aspects, including safety and connectivity. Farmers in the area too have agreed to hand over their land for the purpose, he stated.

Shettar said, as Vaccine Depot is located in the heart of the city; construction of Suvarna Soudha will lead to congestion & people in and around the area the depot would have been badly affected by this project. Hence, a new place was identified on the city outskirts, he pointed out.

At last, the suspense over the Site of the Suvarna soudha is over and we could now expect the construction work to begin in a couple of months. 150 acres is required for the soudha and they have identified the entire area.

See original story in Deccan Herald
Belgaum,news,suvarna soudha,halga,vidhan soudha,

Environmental Concern during Festive season

Yes, it is the beginning of the festive season and a cause for Environmental Concern. The Lord Ganesha will come on the third and with it will bring a host of concerns.
Restrictions imposed in Belgaum in connection with Ganesh Chaturthi.
“Ganesh mandals” have been asked to obtain permission from the nearest police station to set up “pandals,” and avoid collecting entry fee or run lotteries. Sound systems should not be used between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The district administration is concerned over maintenance of law and order and communal harmony even as devotees are gearing up for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations from September 3 to 14. The environmental hazards posed by the festivities are an added worry.
The use of plaster of Paris for making Ganesh idols and use of varnish and chemical paints containing mercury and cadmium are a cause for concern. Only a few traditional sculptors use earthen material for making the idols.
The uses of materials like clay symbolize the natural cycle of creation and dissolution. So why damage nature. Creating awareness on the issue much before the sculpting of idols begins is very necessary.
Due to inflation prices of these idols have, sky rocketed by 15 to 20% from last year. The artists making these idols say they don’t make much profit out of this and slowly the new generation is not very interested in coming in this field, although they help in the family business. The use of plaster of paris, thermocol mantaps and then the Nirmalya created after the puja needs to be properly dealt with. We as responsible citizens should do our bit by going in for clay idols and Paper decoration material rather than plastic. The issue of nirmalya (flowers etc used while Puja) has a religious belief behind it, even then we should not dispose it in rivers as it will cause pollution.
Ganpati Bappa Morya !See original story on The Hindu

Ad board is OFF

I had posted here about the new ad board on the Nucleus Mall; you could take this a Belgaumblog EFFECT (if somebody ahs read this) that the said board is switched off for 3 days now for reasons unknown.
I have no clue why it OFF, I will try and get u more details.

New Sign Board: Where is this Kotekere

College student dies in accident: He could have been saved, IF?

Srinivas Ashok Dharoli (16), a student of the Jain College here, was killed in a road accident near Shagun Garden Khadarwadi Cross on Belgaum-Khanapur Road on Tuesday. He fell off the motorcycle he was riding after it skidded when he tried to avoid a cyclist. He suffered head injuries and died on the way to hospital. He survived by his father, two brothers, and one sister.

The worst part of this accident is that when he fell down on lookers did not have the humanity to pick him up and send to the hospital; instead, all were just seeing him die. His head had hit the handle and due to this, there was internal bleeding and heavy bleeding from his nose and mouth. When a group of Jain college students saw him then he was picked up and on his way to the hospital he died.

He was a very good student and a very good cricketer. Now that he no more, his parents and friends must be asking this question "IF HE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO HOSPITAL HE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED"

This is a rather similar scene all over India, whenever there is an accident no one tries to take the victim to hospital fearing the Police enquiries. This is some what true but this could happen to anyone and if at that time also no one comes up to Save Then What?

Right to Emergency care

The Supreme Court has ruled (Case No: Appeal (Civil) 919of 2007 Date of Judgment: 23-02-2007) that all injured persons especially in the case of road traffic accidents when brought to a Hospital have to be offered First Aid, stabilized & shifted to a Government center if required. It is only after this that the Hospital can demand for payment or complete police formalities. Incase you are a bystander and wish to help someone in an accident, please go ahead and do so. Your responsibility ends as soon as you leave the person at the hospital. The hospital bears the responsibility of informing the police etc.
An accident could happen to any one. It could be you one day. Lets make a promise "We will help anyone in a road accident by getting him to hospital and we will not be a bystander alone."

See original Story on Tarun Bharat here
See original story on The Hindu here

Aniket Chindak nominated for the Pogo Amazing Kids Award

Three people from Belgaum die in Bus accident in Sira

Three people died and 20 were seriously injured, when a private bus fell from a bridge on NH-4 at Manangi gate near Sira on Sunday morning. The deceased were identified as Jyothi (40) her father Ningappa (65) of Belgaum and Ravikumar (30) of Gangavati, an Mtech student all from Kore Galli Shahpur.

The bus was of Suguma Travels.
Normally, long route buses have two drivers, but the ill-fated vehicle had only one driver, who dozed off, police said.

See Original Story here (This NewINd Exprees Site has bad pop ups)

Belgaum lad Aniket Halgekar winner in Reality MTV Roadies show

ATM Theft attempt in Kadolkar Galli

There was an ATM theft attempt made at the Union Bank of India, Kadolkar Galli branch. No loss of money is reported as still the matter is being investigated. There is no security guard for this aTM.

Abu Basher visited Belgaum

Liyakath Ali, a Students Islamic Movement of India activist arrested in Belgaum a month back, has revealed during interrogation that Abu Basher, who has been arrested by the Gujarat police, masterminded both the Bangalore and Ahmedabad serial blasts. He also told interrogators that the main intention was to disrupt peace in both places.

Ali said that Basher had visited Hubli, Belgaum, and Bengaluru in 2007. Here he imparted training to several youth including Riazzuddin Nasir on using arms and making bombs.
Bashir during his stay at Belgaum was in touch with all the seven arrested by the police and presently undergoing Narco Analysis test at Bangalore
When Ali was picked up by the Belgaum police he was found in possession of video clips of the 9/11 attack in the US and some material regarding terrorism in Kashmir.

See original story on Deccan Herald here
See original story on Rediff

Belgaum mapped by all Real Estate developers & Retail giants

Westside, the Tata group based Retail giant plans to set up its store in Belgaum. A ad was published in the Tarun Bharat regarding the same. They are in look out of franchises with a capacity to invest Rs.2 crores and a suitable place on the main road with 8000 to 10000 Sq.feet area.

So any one with big pockets go in and jump into the Retail boom, if anyone reading this does jump in do let me know, I will make another post.
Golden Gate Properties of Bangalore builders of some properties like Golden Grand, Yeshwantpur will enter into the Belgaum market. They plan to set up residential complexes in the next 18 months.

Perception needs to be changed: Bussinessline says Belgaum is in Maharashtra

Before reading, this post read this DISCLAIMER: I am posting news from all media regarding Belgaum. My sole aim is to just make all Belgaumites aware of how the Media treats Belgaum and how the media as a whole make assumptions. Earlier I had quoted another similar story of a IIM A alumnus and this time this story is from Businessline & Businessline says source PTI(Pres Trust of India)

"NRCB scientists were evolving a method by which banana stem juice could be made to powder form, which has curative properties in treating diseases like kidney stones. Once perfected, the technology would be transferred to pharmaceutical industries, he sa id. The centre has also developed a patent technology to extract wine from banana skin and had joined hands with a group in Belgaum in Maharashtra to commercially produce banana wine. A pilot plant would soon be set up, pending approval from the union g overnment. - PTI "

See original Story on Businessline here

My earlier post had received about 12 comments, so if you go to see such posts get the maximum response, but I am not here like the TV media who can stick on to a single news bit for a whole day, let it be Bindras Gold or a boy in the well, for them all is part of the business, but its not mine.

We as responsible citizens of Belgaum should come up and fight against such nuances (Pro Marathi's, reading this will now call me Pro Kannada) a fact is a fact. Today it self Ratan Tata at last has decided to get out of West Bengal after the politics over Singur land. Similar things are happening here also. Come one now cheer up, I know your blood is boiling but Cool it, think over, will it make any difference at all.