Ministers come; Go and all assurances also

Poor response evoked in the meeting called in by the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) on Wednesday to facilitate the public to interact with Minister for Urban Development S. Suresh Kumar and air their grievances on various civic issues.
Belgaum District Contractors’ Association submitted a memorandum to the Minister highlighting the pathetic state of affairs in the corporation. He said that various illegal structures had come up in the city and cited examples in New Gandhi Nagar and Hindalga localities. All such illegal constructions had caused huge loss of revenue to the BCC.

The Belgaum Bar Association demanded to construct a subway connecting the old Court Complex and the new Court Complex (which is on the other side of the road) and provide a bore well and toilet facility in the court complex.
The Minister proposed to set up a task force to take care of development requirements of Belgaum city. The task force, likely to be constituted next month, would have members from all sections of society, including voluntary organizations, he said.
He said that the Government had decided to develop the Vaccine Institute premises, spread over 150 acres, into a garden of medicinal plants with walk ways and other facilities for making it into a good park.
We as citizens believe, all that the minister has said or promised is taken up with due diligence; as we all know Ministers come; Go and all assurances also go along with them.

The city saw some clean up job as the minister was visiting the city. The road dividers were being painted until late nights when the BCC should have taken care of filling the potholes on the roads. Instead of painting the dividers, if the potholes were filled up, at least some good wishes might have gone to the BCC.
Source The Hindu

BUDA website launched

Belgaum, as a hub for setting up a supply chain for the Aerospace industry: QuEST Global

QuEST Global, a leading provider of outsourced engineering services and manufacturing, announced today that it has received the Government of India notification for its SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in Belgaum, Karnataka. QuEST Global has also received approval for the units that are coming up in phase 1 of the SEZ. QuEST Global’s SEZ will be a sector specific precision engineering SEZ, covering over 300 acres of land in the initial phase. This notification allows QuEST Global to lease out the land and also provide build-to-suit requirements in the SEZ to other prospects who would like to set up their business units in QuEST Global’s precision engineering SEZ. The SEZ will provide world class infrastructure in the industrial estate, concentrating mainly on aerospace and automotive related industries. Phase 1 of the SEZ will be operational by December 2008, and Phase 2 is expected to be operational by June 2009.QuEST Global SEZ has already signed up with 3 clients, namely QuEST Global Engineering, QuEST Global Manufacturing and Aerospace Processing India (API), a joint venture between QuEST and Magellan Aerospace for establishing special aerospace processing capabilities in India. At the SEZ in Belgaum, API’s facility of 17,500 sq. ft. will support activities such as chromic acid anodizing line, titanium etching, shot peen, paint and primer booth, MPI and FPI in the initial phase. QuEST Global Manufacturing will expand its existing precision machining operations that are currently set up in Bangalore and QuEST Global Engineering will set up an engineering services facility, to provide low cost engineering services. By starting operations in Belgaum, which is a Tier 3 town in India, QuEST Global Engineering is pioneering the way to ensure low cost delivery of engineering in the future also. QuEST Global has obtained specific unit approvals for all the 3 units along with a sanction for the industrial layout. “Belgaum, as a hub for setting up a supply chain for the Aerospace industry, is the perfect destination as it is ideally located in the industrial heartland of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, thereby providing access to a large number of manufacturing and machining talent. It is also excellently located in terms of logistics, being just off the Golden Quadrilateral NH4 highway (Bangalore-Pune-Mumbai highway), with proximity to 3 sea ports (Goa, Karwar and Mumbai) and 3 airports (Belgaum, Hubli and Kolhapur). In addition, the presence of a number of educational institutes in the region will ensure a good supply of engineers at all levels. Along with engineering services and manufacturing, QuEST now has a precision engineering SEZ, of which are very few in the country. This move demonstrates QuEST Global’s thought leadership, which sets it apart from its competitors.” said Aravind Melligeri, Chairman & Co-founder, QuEST.
The Quest Chairman has said it very correctly and we as Belgaum should now come and make our strategic location the main aspect of our Brand Belgaum. All know about the strategic location Belgaum is in and even then, there has been no industrial development.

We need to get industrialists to come to Belgaum wherein they could save costs and I wish the local MPs and the MLAs take a active part in this and invite industrialists to Belgaum.
Source: businesswireindia

Two little girls dead in road accident

Two girls were killed on the spot when a jeep ran over them on National Highway - 4A near Peeranawadi village on Sunday morning.

The dead have been identified as Deepa Basawaraj Doddamani (10) and Nazia Mohammed Ali Badegar (12), both residents of Peeranwadi.
The accident occurred at about 9 a.m. and the jeep was going to Belgaum from Khanapur. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the scene.
The villagers rushed them to the hospitals where the doctors declared that the girls were brought dead. Enraged public pelted stones and set the jeep on fire when they saw the driver and two others fleeing. The police calmed down the mob and registered a case.

Source: Deccan Herald
The Hindu

Nucleus Ad Board: is On again

The Ad board on the Nucleus Mall is On since today evening and is now displaying newer ads.

The said Ad board was asked to be closed after some complaints were received by the district administration.

Search Belgaum: with Google Maps

A new feature Google Maps has been added on the side bar of the site.

I would encourage all the readers to use this facility. You could also search for local listings in Google Local, like hotels, schools, etc.

 The latest street map of Belgaum is quite clear than earlier and basic areas have been marked, which will help you to find the right place.

Hope this feature will help you. Another first from BelgaumBlog.

Be a Fan of BelgaumBlog, say "I am connected to my home town".

Belgaum- Mumbai flight may commence

Indian Airlines officials had a test flight at the Sambra airport to find out the feasibility of a Belgaum-Mumbai flight.

Now, only one Kingfisher Red flies from here to Bangalore. Deccan Air closed the Mumbai flight in March 2008.

The Belgaum chambers have been demanding the Mumbai Belgaum flight since its closure but no is here to heed to their requests. Now it seems Praful Patel, minister of Aviation whose visit is planned to Belgaum might make an announcement in this regard.
Source Tarun Bharat

Thunderstorms strike Belgaum

Severe Thunderstorms struck the city in the evening at 7.30 pm. City experienced heavy showers along with lightening and loud thunder. Heavy rains lasted for about and hour. During this time normal life was affected as al were caught unaware.

‘Quarterly Statistics on Deposits and Credit of Scheduled June 2008: Belgaum 72

The Reserve Bank of India released its ‘Quarterly Statistics on Deposits and Credit of Scheduled 2008′. The publication contains data relating to deposits and credit of scheduled commercial banks including (RRBs) as on June, 2008.

Nothing much has changed.
March 2008 standings
Note: ‘Quarterly Statistics on Deposits and Credit of Scheduled Commercial Banks’ provides data on aggregate credit of scheduled commercial banks as on June, 2008. The data are based on Basic Statistical Return the branches of all scheduled commercial banks (including RRBs).
Source: http://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=19209

Send Free SMS: Play online games on BelgaumBlog.com

I am excited to introduce you to Social gaming and Mobile services on BelgaumBlog.com

Social gaming:
Why Social gaming?1.Provide your own social gaming feature.2.Engage your users and provide a socializing platform.3.Increase your user loyalty.4.Upgrade your website value.5.Attract more visitors to your website.

Mobile services:

Welcome to free mobile services send free Text messages (SMS) to any mobile in India, download thousands of free ring tones, Read funny SMS and lot more. 1.Free sms to India and world.2.Polyphonic Ring tones3.Mobile games4.Get more users to your website.5.Mobile softwares6.funny sms7.upload from pc to mobile

To use all that go to www.belgaumblog.com/tools page

All this is FREE, So Enjoy !
So, now do not go anywhere else, your own city site has all and would add more in time to come.

Modi riding the Nano: if BRAND BELGAUM existed

Modi riding the Nano

Budhadeb lost it, Deshmukh and Yeduraapa tried, but Modi came and he won.

Ratan Tata said: A good ending to bad Start.
What a story to the Nano? The one-lakh car is in news since it was planned (or even before that) and now when Tata has come out of Bengal and has found a new home the Nano, Gujrat.

C M Yedurrappa met Tatas asked them to come them to Dharwad, Vialsrao Deshmukh did the same thing and asked Tatas to come to Maharashtra, but Modi came and he took the Tatas with him. Brand” Gujrat” or brand” Modi” (this is a different topic) but has been successful.

On this very blog I had said, when the news of our MLA having a press conference and assuring to meet the CM and hand over a memorandum to Yedurappa to ask the Tatas to come to Belgaum, was published and I had said Nano will be out on the roads till the time some action is taken. We need fast action over and above the regular government type.

We should now rise above political motives and work for development. If BRAND “BELGAUM” existed it would have been easy for us. The Chambers of commerce and industry should develop such a forum that would approach big industrialists and make them come here. In such kind of situations, timing is very important. You will make a study, submit a memorandum, no time for all that. If you go into the market to buy something and one shop is closed you go to another, it happened here.

I am trying to work with a few individuals from Belgaum who are aspiring to develop the “Brand Belgaum”. Your support in this regard is required fully. We did not see industrial development, but our children should see it.

Come lets come closer and work together for “BRAND BELGAUM”

More on this will be posted as and when something concrete happens. Until then, you start your inputs so that the same would be shared.

Act in time, act wisely!

Did you know this? Chhagan Bhujbal

B H Manjunath: New Regional commissioner, Belgaum

B H Manjunath will be the new Regional commissioner of Belgaum in place of Amita Prasad who will now be Director general, Administrative Training Institute, Mysore.

Ekroop Kaur will be the new Chief executive officer, Belgaum zilla panchayat.
In place of D B Naik.

Belgaum Blog Gets a Makeover

A year ago or a to be precise exactly 427 days, it was a Tuesday and this is a Tuesday when your site BelgaumBlog has had a makeover for the better.
Thanks Leading Minds.

The Leading Minds team designed the site in just 10 days and professional web designers have designed the site.
I am very happy to have been associated with them in regards to this blog and I am proud I had to go nowhere nor even meet them personally, all has happened over the Internet. To add to it, Leading Minds, is a Belgaum based company and I am proud; Belgaum's own Children are designing a site, which is dedicated towards Belgaum and its development.
I hope to get your continued support to this site and I will keep trying my best to get you the latest news and happenings from your town.

This site wil co exist and will have all the news upadtes, only the new pages and other stuf will be available on the belgaumblog.com alone.

Swimming pool to get a face lift

In a welcome development, although unwittingly, two political rivals within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have made a common cause for the benefit of young swimmers who have brought laurels to their city by winning gold and silver medals in international, national and State-level meets in recent years.

It is no secret that Belgaum MP Suresh C. Angadi and MLA Abhay Kumar Patil do not see eye to eye and always look for opportunities to embarrass each other. Their rivalry sometimes turns into a competition of sorts but out of political compulsions, which is a blessing in disguise for the local people.
This time, it is the swimming pool, which is getting a facelift with the funds sanctioned by the two leaders. Mr. Angadi has sanctioned Rs. 2 lakh and Mr. Patil Rs. 1 lakh from their respective local area development funds for renovation and beautification of the Rotary-Corporation Swimming Pool in the city.

Now just look at this; two leaders from the same party but do not work with each other, this is democracy. At last, some funds will be utilized for the swimming pool and its betterment. Better never than late, that all we all can say and the next time when you want to swim in the Rotary-Corporation Swimming Pool in the city what would say Cheers to Angadi or Patil?
Source The Hindu