It has been over a month now that Belgaum corporation has been in the news and again for reason unwanted for. But this time its time to cheer for the Belgaum City Corporation as it was awarded the National Urban Water Award 2011 in New Delhi recently.

‘National Urban Water Award 2011′ is given in recognition of its excellence in urban water management. Commissioner, Y.S. Patil, and city engineer R.S. Nayak received the award from Union Minister of Urban Development Kamal Nath.

The award is a recognition for the BCC’s work in rejuvenation of 19 large and 22 small open-wells which were constructed during the British rule to increase drinking water supply to residents of the city and also for the implementation of the 24 hours water supply in 10 wards of the city.

The wells were rejuvenated with the support of Rotary Club, INDAL Aluminium Company Ltd. and social workers.

Vaccine depot came to the fore front of each ones talk in 2007, when the state government had thought of building the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha there. After series of protests from Belgaumites and nature lovers the idea was scrapped and the Halga-Bastwad current site was chosen for the magnificent structure.

The Vaccine depot has a total area of 156 acres and 10 guntas and this place acts as a lung and a breathing space. With serene beauty and heritage buildings over 100 years old. Vaccine Depot is a mini exotic forest and has about 3700 varieties of medicinal plants and has a potential to be preserved as a natural reserve. The site has lush greenery and a seasonal natural drain flows during rainy season and has potential for being developed as a landscape element. The site is a treasure of exotic flora and fauna.

Vaccine Depot

The Belgaum Vaccine Depot also known as Vaccine Institute was started by Captain F.H.G. Hutchinson for manufacturing Small Pox vaccine in 1904 under the then Government of Bombay Province. The institute was shifted to its present premises in Tilakwadi following completion of building construction works in 1909. The institute was manufacturing 40 million doses of freeze dried small pox vaccine and supplying all over the country and to neighboring countries as well. During 1954, the vaccine was changed from cow-calf to sheep-based. Following reorganization of States, the administration of institute came under the control of Government of Karnataka in 1956.

On December 1, 2011 the Cabinet approved a proposal to develop a garden along the lines of Lalbagh in Bangalore in Belgaum city at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The garden will be developed on a 125-acre land at Vaccine Depot. A glasshouse will also be developed.

The Foundation stone for glass house was laid on March 13, 2011 itself by BSYeddurappa during the VKS 2011, but no work had happened after that.

In 2008 it was also announced that a heritage park would be built at the Vaccine depot so that all its heritage could be saved.

A foundation stone for the same was also laid then and a project report was also made but nothing really happened on the ground other than the cutting of a few trees for the foundation laying ceremony.

Now on December 1, 2011 the cabinet has approved the proposal, so before this the proposal was not approved and hence we think nothing changed on the ground.

Now that cabinet has given its clearance for the park and the glass house we hope this time atleast it not on paper and in actual Belgaumites will get a good heritage park.

On November 6, 2011 we had made a post Cantonment to officially launch Dirt track, which showed the pitiable condition of Congress road from Kagal Cross to Military Mahadev.

In the past 4 days the same road was entirely dug up and a totally new road was laid down and even (dirt track part) has now been completed.

Hence now this has converted it self into a race track.

The repaired Road Photo: Biswajith

The road on Nov 6, 2011

In fact the entire road from Gogte circle to Kagal cross is being re-asphalted and the bad road on the rail line side is also under repairs and almost 70% work is over on that part as well.

The Cantonment has atlast heard to the voices and we now have good motorable road.

District incharge minister Umesh Katti yesterday made a bold statement of not supplying any water to the Cantonment area.

The minster was reviewing all the works under the various schemes being under taken in the city. The minister said that the development of Khanapur Road (Gogte Circle to Sanchayani Circle) was not happening due to the non cooperation of the Cantonment. When asked to the CEO of Cantonment whether they Corporation can go ahead and demolish the structures in Cantonment area, the CEO said that permission for the same has been sought with Delhi authorities and once we get the same we only will demolish all the structures. The minister was angry on this answer and said that the same answer is being given over so many months and what will change in the days to come.

It may be recalled that a small Canteen at Ashok Circle still exists which was to be demolished during the VKS 2011 but the Cantonment did not give permission even when the district authorities were ready to rehabilitate the canteen owner.

Water wont be supplied from today to the Cantonment area, and many people in the area say is this fair? The cantonment has also paid its contribution for the Hidkal water drinking project and the people say they pay the water taxes so why they should face the consequences.

A Citizen from Camp forwarded these images of the well kept sanitation condition in the Cantonment area.
See the drain which is Opposite Camp Police Quarters, Church Street adjacent to Khanapur Road.
The Cantonment Board has made little efforts to improve the situation and initiate the cleanliness drive but now this is the state. The Cantonment Board demolished a gate and a portion of the compound of the house about 5 to 6 months ago in order to avoid the overflowing of the gutters.

When the authorities are asked as to what will be done they put the blame on the PWD and at the end nothing is done. The dirt collected there is causing foul smell, breeding of mosquitoes. This may further lead to more health hazards around this place.

After the great success of F1 in UP, the Belgaum Cantonment could officially launch its first dirt track of about 70 mtrs on Congress road (From Kagal Cross to Military Mahadev towards Gogte Circle.)

The road is clean of any asphalt and all boulders have come up to enjoy the fresh air. The road has been maintained in an aesthetic way that it resembles a dirt track and as the Cantonment is lacking in funds a proposal has been forwarded to it to collect fees from commuters who use the road (dirt track) and it is almost final that it would be named BIDT (Belgaum International Dirt Track).

A few more test dirt tracks are planned in the camp area on a smaller scale and no fees would be collected there as the Cantonment wishes that people should first rehearse on those tracks in the Camp area and then try driving on the BIDT.

Various representations were made by the citizens to the Cantonment and sources close to this blog have said that it is confirmed that in a fortnight the same could be officially opened.

People coming to see the BIDT can also have some Vada Pav/ Tea and ice creams from Pop in while they watch the riders risk their lives for your entertainment.

The Belgaum Cantonment also plans a franchisee model of building of such Dirt tracks through out the various cantonment’s in the country and this would be for the first time that such a model would be implemented by a Cantonment anywhere.

So Belgaumites !!! get ready for BIDT, no doubt there wont be any grid girls around nor a pit stop nor the glamor, but if one survives the Cantonment roads you are WINNER.

A total of 50 roads in eight city corporation limits in the State, including 2 in the Belgaum corporation limits, will be upgraded over the next two years under a public-private-partnership project to help improve urban mobility issues.

The two roads selected for the project are Srinagar to Kanbargi Double road and Fort Road (Deshpande Petrol bunk) to Amba bhuvan.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Friday launched Project Tender SURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution). As per the project, the roads will be upgraded following detailed specification pertaining to design, procurement and execution.

Tender SURE takes the best practices from all over the world, uses technical specifications in various Indian manuals, and builds on them. Besides planning and design standards, the document includes information related to traffic movement, pedestrians and cyclists, footpaths, parking, public transport, sewage, drainage, engineering plans and technical specifications.

Patil Galli the Stretch to be remade Fort Road (Deshpande Petrol bunk) to Amba bhuvan

For the Srinagar Garden to Kanbargi double road of 1.8 kms stretch a tender of Rs.3 crore 59 lakhs and for Fort Road (Deshpande Petrol bunk) to Amba bhuvan a tender of Rs.1 crore 9 lakhs will be taken out.

With inputs from Tarun Bharat, Deccan Herald, Hindu, ToI, City Connect

Enactment of the Public Disclosure Schedule is one of the mandatory State Level Reforms under JNNURM. Under this law, urban local bodies (ULBs) have to voluntarily declare information about its functioning, which includes, annual statements of performance covering operating and financial parameters and service levels for various services on a periodic basis to the public.

Here is what our Belgaum City Corporation PDLhas declared.

In short:

As on date there is no Scientific treatment facility, 35 MLD raw sewage let into Bellary Nallah.

Total waste collected & transported to disposal sites 160 tones/day

There are 32 declared slums and 19 non declared slums in Belgaum city. About 2.337 Sq.mts is occupied with a population of 57902 and the number of households are 12082.

Number of days of water supply per week in Normal season – Once in 3 days

Water Charge Rs.1000 per annum for Domestic (hiked from Today)

Area reserved under Parks & Gardens 640555 in Sq.meters

Rs.21.97 lakhs is collected as revenue from Hoardings, Ad poles, Kiosks

One can also find information about Building permissions etc and also details about when your street is swept and cleaned and who is paid for doing that. Number of Public toilets whether there is a charge for using the same and host of other information. See entire file here

Sewerage

Total Number of households with direct UGD Connections Approximately 60042 in Numbers

Total waste water collected at sewage treatment plant NIL in MLD

Quantity of waste water treated NIL.in MLD

Quantity of waste water recycled & reused out of treated waste water NIL in MLD (when mouse is moved on MLD then it should show

There is no STP exists but proposed under NKUSIP Project

As on date there is no Scientific treatment facility, 35 MLD raw sewage let into Bellary Nallah

Scientific Disposal of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste):

Total waste collected & transported to disposal sites 160 tones/day

Total waste processed in scientific manner 160 tones/day

Per capita production of water

Water supplied through Surface Source 91 MLD

Water Supplied through Underground Source 5.49 MLD

Water supplied through external source 4.08 MLD

Water Supply Coverage

Total Number of Households 80970 numbers

Number of house holds with direct water supply connections 49675 numbers

Total number of Public Stand Posts 540 numbers

Total number of industrial connections 267 numbers

Frequency & Timings of water supply

Number of days of water supply per week in Normal season – Once in 3 days

Number of hours of water supply on any supplied day (Normal season) – 2 hours duration

Area reserved under Parks & Gardens

Total ULB area 94.08 in Sq.kms

Area reserved under Parks & Gardens 640555 in Sq.meters
Area of developed parks and gardens 22060 in sq. mts

All this above details were got from the PDL on the City corporation website.

GoK vide its notification UDD 92 CSS 2009 dt. 26-11-2009, published the “Karnataka Right to Information (Disclosure of Information by Authorities Providing Municipal Services) Rules, 2009″ (attached). Under this, it is mandatory for all ULBs in the state, through their respective PIOs to publish Public Disclosure data as per the prescribed template and frequency after 1 year of the Notification i.e. 26-11-2010. Read through below text and links for complete info.

“Kannon ke haath Lambe hote hain, magar Aankhe nahi hote” How true this is.

Six floor buildings was being constructed near the Jakerri Honda near the railway over bridge since 2008. But the civic authorities showed a blind eye towards the same.

The said RC No.219 measuring 2 acres and 10 gunthas was reserved for parks and open space. But in 2006 the district administration granted permission for building of residential quarters for employees of the revenue department.

On July 7, 2001 BUDA issued a notice to get any objections from the public for the change of land use of the said plot. It is said that the notice was published in some papers and was also pasted on the BUDA notice board.

If construction was started in 2008 and six storey buildings have already come up with the finishing work in progress how is it now that the BUDA wakes up to issue a notice for change of land use.

In 2009 the work was halted after the High court had issued an injunction on a writ petition filed by Ganesh J. Oulkar, seeking orders to restrain the Karnataka Housing Board, from constructing any residential quarters, building or apartment and changing the nature of the land at Jakkeri Honda.

Ganesh J. Oulkar, who filed the petition on June 27, he said that the KHB had taken up construction work on the open space marked for a park at Jakkeri Honda in violation of the Karnataka Parks (Protection) Act. Then Belgaum City Corporation, which is also a respondent, had not granted permission to the KHB to take up construction work on the open space.

Belgaum Rural MLA in the recent meeting of the city corporation presented this idea at the meet and all the members agreed to the the suggestion.

A pyrolysis plant (thermo-chemical decomposition of organic material) will be environmental friendly and the residents of Turmuri village where the current garbage dump exists will be saved of many hazards.

The garbage dump had to shifted from Turmuri and a resolution for the same had been passed long ago but due to the non availability of a proper site the matter was kept pending.

MLA Sanjay Patil has promised to allocate a 5 acre land required for the project.

Currently the Ramky company is collecting Rs.650 per tonne of  Municipal Solid Waste while with the new plant the cost could come down to Rs.150 per tonne.

Members asked the Commissioner to look into the terms and conditions of the Ramky agreement so that they dont fall into some legal tangle.