To achieve a cost-saving of 19 crore rupees under the Smart City scheme, it is essential to prepare a well-structured proposal. Minister Jarakiholi emphasized the urgency of completing ongoing projects, such as the Belagavi city bus stand and Kalamandir at Tilakawadi.
The Integrated Command and Control Center, established at a cost of 51 crores in Visvesvaraya Nagar, presents an opportunity for various departments including the City Corporation, Police, Health, and Transport to collaborate effectively. It is crucial for these departments to leverage this facility.
A total of 102 works have been undertaken, amounting to a cost of 930 crores. Out of these, 96 works have been completed, and six are currently in operation. Additionally, six works have been initiated under the PPP model, costing 211 crore rupees, with one already completed.
So far, the central government has released 441 crores, and the state governments have contributed 439 crores, totaling 880 crores. Currently, 110 crores have been released, including 49 crores from the central government and 61 crores from the state government.
District in-charge minister Satish Jarakiholi emphasized the need to prepare a proposal outlining the utilization of the savings before making any decisions.
Anganwadi Development; Secretary Lakshmi Hebbalkar Concerned about High Expenditure:
Secretary Lakshmi Hebbalkar expressed deep dissatisfaction with the expenditure of 80 lakhs on the development of the Anganwadi Centre. After reviewing the photographs of the completed work, she questioned the justification for such a high cost. Minister Hebbalkar instructed the officials to provide a detailed breakdown of the expenses.
Furthermore, she highlighted the unscientific cycling tracks in certain areas and the damage caused to roads due to ongoing water project works. Minister Hebbalkar urged the officials to address these issues promptly and ensure necessary repairs are carried out.
Minister Hebbalkar expressed her disappointment that despite significant investments in Belagavi city, not a single rupee has been allocated for the development of rural areas. She emphasized the need for equitable distribution of funds and resources.
While acknowledging the progress made in the South and North sectors, Minister Hebbalkar requested written information from the officials regarding the work carried out in the rural areas falling under the jurisdiction of the corporations.
“She criticized the officials for their apathy in neglecting even the most basic tasks in the rural sector. Lakshmi Hebbalkar urged the district in-charge minister to prioritize the works in our constituency in order to save money.
MP Smt. Mangala Angadi expressed her disappointment that no action has been taken yet despite her request for the development of a small park.
MLA Asif (Raju Seth) of Belgaum North Constituency not only discussed the progress of the Smart City project with the officials but also requested detailed information about each individual task.
Demand for Investigation into Rule Violations – Abhay Patil:
Abhay Patil, MLA of Belgaum South Constituency, insisted that action should be taken against officials if trees have been cut for the Smart City project at Vaccine Depot. He further demanded a thorough investigation into all the works if there are complaints regarding the quality of the project and violations of rules.
Surprise over White Topping Expenditure – MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, advised the officials to pay attention to the proposal for new works under the Smart City scheme, particularly regarding the excessive expenditure on white topping, which amounted to a total of 53 km in the city.”
During the Smart City project, the potential revenue that can be generated from the development of various galleries and art galleries has been discussed. DC Nitesh Patil mentioned that no income has been generated thus far.
Once the revenue starts flowing in, it will be overseen by the committee, with Nitesh Patil as the chairperson.