A memorandum has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi district seeking intervention to restore the original ₹135 crore allocation sanctioned for the city under the Government of India’s CITIIS 2.0 initiative.
In the representation, citizens and stakeholders expressed concern over reports that the proposed project size under CITIIS 2.0 has been scaled down from approximately ₹135 crore to around ₹75 crore — a reduction of nearly ₹60 crore.
Belagavi was selected under the CITIIS 2.0 programme aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable waste management systems. As per the initial proposal, projects worth ₹135 crore were planned for the city.
The memorandum states that such a significant reduction could result in:
- Curtailment of key infrastructure components
- Reduced effectiveness of waste management systems
- Limited coverage of climate resilience initiatives
- Loss of economic opportunities, including local employment and MSME participation
The signatories have requested the Deputy Commissioner to seek a detailed explanation from the concerned authorities regarding the reasons for scaling down the project and to ensure transparency in all decisions related to the initiative. They have also urged a review of the feasibility of restoring the original ₹135 crore project scope.
The memorandum emphasizes that Belagavi, being a key economic and industrial hub, must receive its due share of infrastructure investment to sustain its growth trajectory.
The memorandum has been signed by Rajkumar Topannavar, Adv. Nitin Bolbandi, and Sujit Mulgund, who have sought prompt administrative intervention to safeguard the city’s interests.