Shobhan Bantwal: Stars of Belgaum

D B Naik(CEO ZP, Belgaum) raided by Lokayukta

Lokayukta Police team from Bangalore raided the official residence of D.B. Naik, Chief Executive Officer of Belgaum Zilla Panchayat and in-charge Deputy Commissioner, in Visvesvaraiah Nagar here on Thursday.

Simultaneous raids were conducted at Mr. Naik’s office, official residence, and his house at Vaibhav Nagar. Mr. Naik, a 1983-84 batch KAS officer, has served as Commissioner of Belgaum Urban Development Authority (BUDA) for more than four years.

The assets found were: A bungalow worth Rs.40 lakh in Vaibhav Nagar, 3 bungalows worth 15 lakhs in Gokak taluk, 2 bunglows in his brothers name, 25 acres of land in Gokak taluk worth 10 lakhs, 10 acres in Gunji worth 10 lakhs, guest house worth 25 lakhs in Mamdapur(Goakak) , one house in Malmaruti worth 3 lakhs 50 thousand and one land in Shindoli worth 3 lakhs.

Source :http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091253300300.htm
http://www.tarunbharat.com/EditionsNews.asp?daten=9/12/2008&id=9209

Commonwealth youth games Baton in Belgaum on 14th

New ray of hope for Belgaum Ring road

The KARNATAKA ROAD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED has invited Consulting Services for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the following works from reputed Consultants for Construction of Ring Road around Belgaum City.The tender notification was published on 30.08.2008 vide No.KRDCL/IFB/2008/41. The last date for submission of completed documents is 22.09.2008 before 3.00 P.M. Opening of Technical Bid is on 25.09.2008.

At last, there is something happening concerning the Ring road, which has now become a necessity. The heavy vehicles traffic on Khanapur Road and Congress road and in the city would be diverted once this ring road is built. Hope this time tenders come in and some one commences work at the earliest.
Details of the Tender are available at http://www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in/.
No doubt this is an invite for only a detailed project report, we should hope it will be done at the earliest.

Belgaum did not miss the Bus

Belgaum did not miss the BusTATA Motors TELCON was planned at Belgaum but was successfully and smartly driven away to Dharwad by so called fight for North Karnataka kind of politicians from Hubli-Dhawad , but Belgaum’s legacy of being birth place of hydraulics and pioneer in Body building activity reaping its fruit in recent past.

Mohan V Kamat and Vijay R Kamat have tremendous experience in the business, who came up with their proposal for establishing the plant in Belgaum (ALMA MOTORS PVT. LTD. Survey No. 274, NH4A, Desur Village, Belgaum-Khanapur Road, Belgaum - 590 014)

The plants total capacity is of 10,000 vehicles per annum.The Group has set up two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Zaheerabad in Andhra Pradesh and Belgaum in Karnataka involving considerable capital outlay having a combined production capacity in excess of 10,000 buses per annum, amongst the largest in the country.The company is specializes in coach buildings of Military Luxury standard and executive coaches on Leyland chassis. The company also makes interior FRP fabs for coaches.

These are fully integrated plants having comprehensive in-house supporting facilities for fibreglass components production, manufacture of seats and pressed parts.The manufacturing operations are ably complemented by a strong Design and Engineering Centre that provides critical inputs on design engineering/analysis, prototyping, testing and subsequent engineering for mass production. The Design Centre employs state-of-the-art software platforms for effective product development from Concept to Production in the shortest time cycle.Teams of experienced and well-trained professionals having first hand exposure to international bus design and manufacturing practices operate the Design and Engineering facilities as well as the Manufacturing plants.
In years to come Belgaum will regain its glory of being the mother of ancillary units.
Original Story Inspired from the Blog Belgaumnri

Industrial Corridor near Highways in Belgaum

The central government has an aspiring industrial corridor plan & under the Delhi- Chennai industrial corridor, land survey is going on for 4000 acres from Nippani to Kittur on the NH 4 and NH4A.

The said industrial Corridor developed by the Central govt. in alliance with Japan & has to be built in 2008-2011. The main aim of this corridor is the overall industrial development and ease in logistics. The State govt. has to acquire lad and develop it and the central govt. will finance the project.

100 acres at Halga on the NH 4 has been reserved for Agri Food processing. 70 acres already allotted for a Textile park in Waghvade on the Belgaum – Khanapur road. 100 acres in Waghvade & 70 acres in Desur is for IT Park. 500 acres is being sought at Bhutramatti on the NH4 for Automobile component industry. 350 acres in Halbhavi will have a Chemical and Body building SEZ. In Vantmuri a SEZ has been planned in 2000 acres. 2500 acres has been identified for a Private Educational institute in Hattargi.

After reading this, I was amazed at the plans of the government. The plans have been planned in a much-planned manner. However, the question is will this be implemented in the time frame with all those farmer revolts against land acquisition. Infact Belgaum has seen a many of these revolts in the recent past. Sambra airport up gradation, then the Bellary Nala farmers protest against their land being taken and now the very recent Halga protest against the Site of Vidhan Soudha.

Tata's have almost said good-bye to Bengal after the land row in its Singur plant. If same kind of things happen here also, the industrialists will hesitate to come in and set shop. Industrial development is required but at what & whose Cost is the big question in front of me.

See Original story on Tarun Bharat

Low level of oxygen causes Thousands of Fish to die in Kotekere

Low level of oxygen causes Thousands of Fish to die in Kotekere

Fish were found dead in large numbers at the Kote Kere (or Fort Lake) here on Thursday. According to an estimate, nearly 10 tonnes of fish died in a period of just 24 hours since Wednesday. However, there were no fresh cases of death reported on Thursday.

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is the main variety of fish found in this lake. Yet, the Belgaum City Corporation, which had handed over the management and maintenance of the lake to a private contractor, has not informed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) of the reasons for the disaster. The KSPCB has been monitoring water quality and other environmental aspects in and around the lake on a monthly basis.

One of the reasons could be due to the drop in dissolved oxygen level. A KSPCB official said that he had come on his own after one of his friends informed him about the incident in the morning. However, there was no information from the corporation. Fish start dying due to suffocation when the dissolved oxygen level in the water drops. In addition, there was no adequate harvesting of fish since more than a month because of Sravanamasa when all Hindus avoid consuming meat. The 10-day Ganeshotsava follows Sravanamasa.

Therefore, there was an apparent growth in the numbers of fish in the lake demanding more oxygen. Apart, the weather had been cloudy since about a week that also adversely affected the oxygen level.

Thanks to vavpatil@gmail.com for posting it first here on this blog on the chat box.
See original story on The Hindu

Ganesh decoration using FLEX in demand

The Ganesh Festival has begun since yesterday and all air filled with joy and vigor. The decoration for the Sarvajanik Mandals this time (347) has one noticeable factor of the use of FLEX (plastic same as those big hoardings) material for all decoration as background, pillars etc. Until last year FLEX was used to make only the mandals sign board. but this time a vast use of this has been seen all over by the mandals. Still as this is just the first day after the installation of the idols in the pandals, still the decoration is going on.
I will get you the most photos of the sarvajanik mandals in Belgaum, I wont be able to cover all the 347 but I should manage a few good ones for all of you.

Therefore, bookmark this post as the slideshow of the Ganesh darshan will be automatically updated daily. On the main page, also a small-scaled slide show will be published.

Share your Ganpati Bappa on Belgaumblog

Belgaumites, here is a nice chance to all of you to share your Ganpati Images with other Belgaumites. Now, how to do it?

Simple! Email your pictures to

belgaumbloguday.ganpati@picasaweb.com

Nothing is simple as this.

Your photos will automatically show up in the slide show on the blog. See it here. (http://belgaumblog.com/2008/09/share-your-gan…on-belgaumblogshare-your-ganpati-bappa-on-belgaumblog/)

So, say Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Note: Keep the image size to a maximum size of 4 by 6 inches and resolution of 72. It might take more than 5-10 minutes for your photos to come up on the slide show.

Do not write anything in the mailbox part. Your Captions are not visible right now. So in this case, I would request you to add your name on the photo itself by using a Photo Editor software like Photoshop or similar.

Ganapati comes home with lots of enthusiasm

The Lord Ganesha has now come into all homes by now.

In the picture you can see Lord Ganesha being taken home with a lot of joy and sounds of fire crackers & Ganpati Bappa Morya !
The Sarvajanik Mandals will get their idols by the evening. There are 347 registered Mandals this year in Belgaum.

Ganpati Bappa Morya Belgaum

Vidhana Soudha: Farmers asking for more compensation

The delay in taking up work on the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha building in Belgaum city is likely to lead to cost escalation, considering the increase in the prices of construction material in the past two years.
The prices of construction material have gone up by 10 to 15 per cent in the wholesale as well as retail markets during the past two years.
Added to the cost escalation factor is the fact that the farmers, who had given consent to handing over their land to the Government to set up the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, are now demanding four times the price they quoted last year.
The farmers of Halaga, the new site situated on the Pune-Bangalore Express Highway that was unanimously chosen by the high-level committee headed by Speaker Jagadish Shettar recently, have given written consent to hand over 60 acres of their land to facilitate the establishment of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
The government offer for one acre of land was around Rs. 5 lakh, while the market value was much high. The cost of the land in and around Halaga would shoot up once construction work on the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha commences.

The actual estimates for the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha were not ready even though the Government invited tenders in September last, he said. The farmers, who had agreed for Rs. 5 lakh an acre more than a year ago when Halaga was one of the three venues proposed for setting up the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, were demanding at least Rs. 20 lakh an acre now.

Building of the Vidhan Soudha does not seem to be an easy task. Where ever the site is chosen there have been protests, against it from the farmers of that area. The government should solve the issue amicably with the farmers, as it is the question of their livelihood.

All the best to the Government.
See Original Story The Hindu

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