Thursday, August 30, 2007

CII sets up office in Belgaum

Source The Hindu Business line


Bangalore, Aug.28. The Confederation of Indian Industry (Karnataka) has set up an office Belgaum with the objective of taking initiatives to spread industrialisation in the area a surrounding districts.

The Belgaum-Zone office will be aiming to highlight the potential of Belgaum as an industrial centre. The district has several large industries; important among them is the Indal Aluminium Factory.

As one of the fastest growing cities in the northwest part of Karnataka, Belgaum district borders two states, Maharashtra and Goa and the city of Belgaum is accessible via air from Bombay and Bangalore. This is the second office of CII outside Bangalore after Mysore.

The Belgaum Zone will focus on working with Government and local authorities and industry to create additional infrastructure with a view to enhance efficiency, competitiveness, raise export capabilities and make the industry environment-friendly.

There is a potential for improving the quality of the product, making it cost-effective and enhancing the competitiveness of industry here, said Mr N. Reguraj, Chairman of CII, Karnataka.

Some of the areas of focus could be to promote Green Environment through Pollution Control, provide required simulation software for foundries, create training and development facilities for human resource development, establish R&D laboratories and undertake any other activity incidental to the improvement of quality and make products internationally competitive.

During the coming months, CII plans to hold session on TPM, ISO 9000, HR, Taxation and road shows.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

CII Belgaum Zone

CII zone to give boost to N Karnataka

DH News Service, Bangalore:



As part of its aim to make growth and industrial development more inclusive across the State , CII Karnataka, has set-up the ‘Belgaum Zone’ to spear-head its initiatives in that area and surrounding districts and there by activating industrial development works in North Karnataka. This was announced here, on Tuesday.
Belgaum District is an important manufacturing and educational centre in North Karnataka.
Connectivity
Given its good connectivity by rail, road and air with the major industrial centres -Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune, it has the potential to become a major centre of activity for the automotive and aerospace industry stated Mr N Reguraj, Chairman, CII Karnataka.
The District, the second largest in terms of geographical area in the state, is growing to become a vibrant economy.
Its strategic location, connectivity, salubrious climate, huge natural resources, vast pool of talent, cheap and skilled labour, educational facilities, recreation facilities lead the district towards a phenomenal growth in social, economical, industrial and trade sectors. It is the most potential in view of the available resources and infrastrucre.

Monday, August 27, 2007

I hope the promises will be kept

Belgaum to be ‘second capital’ but what about other things Ring road Airport extension International Cricket Stadium


Deve Gowda’s statement comes as a ‘surprise’ to Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa

HISTORIC: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy laying the foundation stone for Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum on Sunday. Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (left), Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil, and Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna, are with him.

Belgaum: On the “momentous” and “historic” occasion of foundation stone laying for the “Suvarna Vidhana Soudha” in Belgaum on Sunday, the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government gave a double treat the people with the former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda declaring Belgaum as “second capital” of Karnataka to a huge applause from the thousands of people gathered. Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy, who endorsed his father’s views, said a “forum” had been created to develop Belgaum as second capital of the State.

To begin with, Mr. Kumarswamy laid the foundation stone for 18 development works pertaining to the Ministry of Public Works and Energy headed by H.D. Revanna estimated at Rs. 1,075 crore, most of them in Belgaum district and a Rs. 27-crore project on laying railway line to Bagalkot.

Mr. Deve Gowda’s announcement came as a surprise to Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, if not to Mr. Kumarswamy himself. The former Prime Minister himself indicated that he had not informed about it to the two leaders.

Mr. Deve Gowda said the credit for developing Belgaum into second capital should go to the coalition government and not to any political party. Although there had been demand for holding legislature session and establishment of High Court Bench in north Karnataka from major cities, the Government had decided to develop Belgaum into second capital. He said although the Government was highly ambitious and looking forward to speed up development, it did not have the required funds. The Government had to approach the Centre for financial support besides putting in more efforts to augment revenues.

Reading from a written speech with poetic references describing Belgaum such as “Kashmir of Karnataka”, Mr. Kumarswamy said the occasion brought him great satisfaction. The Government would ensure expeditious construction of the building and it would be inaugurated next year. Mr. Yediyurappa, who presided over the programme, said the building would be inaugurated during the tenure of the coalition government. Of the Rs. 230 crore sanctioned, the Government had released Rs. 70 crore and work entrusted to a contractor.

Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna, Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Sachidanand Khot, Ministers Shahikant A. Naik, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Govind Karjol, C.M. Udasi, Basavaraj Horatti, Jagdish Shettar, H.D. Revanna and Shivanna Naik, MP Suresh Angadi, and legislators from Belgaum district Laxman Saudi, Abhay Patil, and Mahadevappa Yadwad, and the former Mayor Siddangouda Patil were present.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Killing Belgaums Growth Prospects again

Ghataprabha thermal power plant project dropped

DH News Service, Mysore:



According to sources, the government had yielded to pressure from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments and is not going ahead with the 1000MW project.

The Karnataka Government has dropped coal-based Ghataprabha thermal power plant in Belgaum district as it has called for “global invitation for request for qualification” for only Chamalapura in Mysore district and Jewargi in Gulbarga district.

According to sources, the government had yielded to pressure from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments and is not going ahead with the 1000MW project. The two neighbouring states are said to have objected to the project saying that it would pollute the Krishna river.

The invitation for two 1000 MW plants in Jewargi and Chamalapura were invited on August 8.

However, the government seems to have ignored the protests for the Chamalapur project. No public hearing has been held for the project.

In its July 18 order, the Ministry of Water Resources has given approval in principle for the annual use of 1.56 tmc water for each plant.

As per the invitation, the last date to obtain application is September 7 and to submit September 14. It has also been decided to hold a meeting on September 21 and before October 6, the responses will be given and on October 27, list of bidders will be announced.

Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has been entrusted with the responsibility of acquiring land already identified for the plants in Chamalapura and Jewargi.

Independent bodies will be formed to get permission from the Department of Environment and to study the feasibility of the projects, according to the invitation.

It also says that the firms will have to give government 85 per cent of power generated in these plants and the projects should be completed in 48 months.

Suicide threat
The farmers in and around Chamalapur have protested the proposed plant.

If the government continues with the project, the farmers have threatened to commit mass suicide.

They have also planned to seek Tamil Nadu’s support as the Kabini and Cauvery rivers will be polluted if the plant is set up in Chamalapura.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Belgaum, a centre of the freedom struggle

Extracts of The Hindu Corrospondent Mr Vijaykumar Patil


Belgaum and its adjoining regions — Bombay Karnataka in popular parlance — have always been the geographical meeting point of Marathi and Kannada cultures. It was a centre of the freedom struggle.

In 1857, when the Indo-Gangetic plain was convulsed by the fires of a sepoy-led rebellion against colonial rule, its echo was heard in Belgaum.

Instigation

A Muslim Wahabi and ‘munshi’ in the army were discovered instigating sepoys in Belgaum in August 1857; five of them were executed by the British and four others imprisoned for life. Mahipalsingh was deputed by Raja Venkatappa Nayaka of Shorapur (Gulbarga district) to instigate sepoys in the native infantry in Belgaum. Though he succeeded in persuading a considerable number of soldiers to revolt, his plot was discovered and he was arrested and hanged. Bhaskar Rao alias Babasaheb of Nargund planned a revolt and attacked a British contingent, but was caught in Torgal and later hanged in Belgaum. His ‘samadhi’ is located at the Military Dairy.

Kittur Rani

The history of Belgaum is not complete without a mention of Rani Channamma, the Queen of Kittur, whose heroic resistance to the British is commemorated in song and story. The queen refused a surrender offer and promise of ‘justice’ and instead attacked the enemy surrounding her fort, on December 3, 1824. The queen and her small army put up a heroic fight but were eventually defeated. She was jailed at Bailhongal where she died in 1829.

Heroic too was Sangolli Rayanna, a servant of Kittur State, who gathered a considerable band and carried forward the fight. He was later overpowered, arrested and hanged in 1830 at Nandgadh.

A.O. Hume visited Belgaum to propagate Congress ideals in 1893. Since then the district has served as home for both the ‘naram’ and ‘garam’ (moderate and extremist) factions of the Congress. The region was greatly influenced by Balgangadhar Tilak who visited Belgaum in 1906. Several leaders emerged here, including Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, Annu Guruji, Jivanrao Yalgi, Ramchandra Wadavi and Baburao Thakur.

Swadeshi movement

During the swadeshi movement of 1905-08, Govindrao Yalgi was responsible for starting secret revolutionary associations. Belgaum was made headquarters of the State unit of Tilak’s Home Rule League.

Belgaum played host to the historic 39th Plenary Session of the All-India Congress in 1924 (December 26 to 28), the only Congress session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The session saw the return of the Swaraj Party into the Congress fold.

Gangubai’s performance

An 11-year-old girl named Gangubai Hangal rendered the famous Kannada anthem, “Udayavagali Namma Cheluva Kannadanadu”, especially composed for the occasion by Hailgol Narayan Rao of Gadag on the opening day of the session.

As per the Lahore Congress decision, Independence Day was celebrated on January 26, 1930 by hoisting the tricolour in several places in the district. Thousands took the oath for freedom. This was followed by Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha. In Belgaum, Gangadhar Rao sold contraband salt on April 6, 1930 at a public meeting, the same day that Gandhiji broke the salt law at Dandi.

After a lull in the movement because of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1831, the Civil Disobedience movement started once again in 1932, and 113 people from Belgaum taluk alone were convicted. They included Annu Guruji and four women from Ankalgi.

Good response

Veteran freedom fighter Krishna Mense recalls the overwhelming response in Belgaum and surrounding areas to the Quit India Movement. Large numbers of peasants, labourers and the weaker sections of society had joined the movement.

August 15, 1947 turned out to be a great festival when thousands took out a massive procession in Ganpat galli in Belgaum city to celebrate independence.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Proposed Belgaum Food and Agricultural Export Park cancelled

GULBARGA: Two agro food technology parks proposed at Belgaum and Maddur in Mandya district, out of total six proposed parks, in the State have been dropped, thanks to the apathy of officials concerned and the lack of political will.

The promoters failed to identify the land in Belgaum, where as in Maddur the KAIDB acquired 70 acres and after a year the same was granted to other schemes, as there was no progress.

In fact, now there is no provision for the State Government to seek approval or seek financial assistance from the Union Government as the schemes taken up under the 10th Five Year Plan closed on March 2007.

Though there is a scheme to establish parks under Mega Food Parks in the 11th Five Year Plan, the proposal is still pending before the Planning Commission, sources revealed to this website’s newspaper.

Out of the four approved parks, the infrastructure work in Jewargi of Gulbarga district on 105 acres land and in Bagalkot on 100 acres land is yet to begin.

However, as much as Rs 2 crore each for Malur (in Kolar district) agro food park and Bagalkot agro food park has already been released out of Rs 4 crore available funds from the Union government. It is also likely to release Rs 2 crore for the Hiriyur (in Chitradurga dist) agro food park shortly.

Meanwhile, it is said that the Union government authorities cautioned the State to utilise the funds to promote agro food processing industries, where there is predominant production of processable agriculture and horticulture products before March 2008 or the funds will be diverted to other schemes.

At present, there is no possibility of releasing Central and State governments’ funds for Jewargi agro food park as nothing has been progressed except land acquisition. However, the project management team led by S S Patil, who is also a FKCCI president claims that they would start the work shortly.

Meanwhile, Malur agro food park is all set to be thrown open to agro-based industries by the end of December. Required facilities such as uninterrupted power supply, water supply, quality assurance laboratory, wear housing including cold storage unit and common effluent treatment plant provided well in advance

Source newindpress

Friday, August 3, 2007

Belgaumites getting united

Move to split nigam dropped


Staff Correspondent of Hindu 3 Aug 2007



Belgaum: Yielding to the pressure from Kannada organisations and legislators from Belgaum district and other constituencies in north Karnataka, the Government has dropped the move to bifurcate Karnataka Neeravari Nigam (North) Belgaum and shift the office of Chief Engineer to Dharwad.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday asked Minister for Water Resources K.S. Eshwarappa not to bifurcate the nigam for Malaprabha and Ghataprabha command areas. Belgaum District Kannada Organisations Action Committee on Wednesday staged a demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office in protest against the move.

On Thursday, legislators from the district cutting across party lines made a common cause in meeting Mr. Yediyurappa.

The delegation was led by Minister for Horticulture Shashikant A. Naik. Legislators Laxman Saudi (Athani), Mahadevappa Yadwad (Ramdurg), Abhay Patil (Bagewadi), Dattu Hakyagol (Chikodi), Raju Kage (Kagwad), Suresh Marihal (Kittur), M.K. Pattanshetty (Badami), Siddu Saudi (Jamkhandi), Huleppa Meti (Guledgud), Prakash B. Hukkeri (Sadalga), A.B. Patil (Sankeshwar), Jagdish Metgud (Bailhongal), Viswanath Mamne (Saundatti), Bhimappa Sarikar (Raibag), and V.A. Patil, MLC, were in the delegation.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Building Dharwad graved Belgaum

It is so often happening ever since certain politicians are targeting the move of divisional office at Belgaum to Dharwad ,the recent was Jt directors office of Public instructions and for what reason are they doing this no district representative are ready to ask, on one hand the govt of Karnataka promises exclusive development of Belgaum being border district and on the other hand the move of offices are causing the loosing grip on administrative destabilization.
the recent issue was of moving Chief Engineers North office to Dharwad , Thanks to Mr Ashok Chandargi who has brought this issue to public,
In future Belgauimtes need to thrive hard and get back all the divisional offices moved out of Belgaum

Let this happen soon

Railway service between Belgaum-Dharwad in the offing
Wednesday August 1 2007 13:07 IST
BELGAUM: It seems that the dream of former Belgaum MP, S B Sidnal of starting railway service from Belgaum to Dharwad via Bailhongal may soon become reality as the Railway Ministry is contemplating in this regard and is expected to conduct a survey soon.

Thanks to Belgaum MP Suresh Angadi for his efforts to take up the proposal which was pending with the Ministry for more than 15 years.

Sidnal had tabled a proposal of starting railway service between Belgaum and Hubli either along the Pune-Bangalore national highway 4 or via Bailhongal town.

It is learnt that the Ministry had also proposed to lay double track between Bangalore and Pune which was expected to get a nod shortly. The Belgaum railway station would also be upgraded.

The upgrading process included increasing the length of platform no 2 and 3 and others.