It's a win-win situation for Belagavi city all over. The city which on the mode of speedy development with coming up of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) three years ago, all set for big leap, with the state government recommended the name of city for 'Smart City' project to the central government.
Prime minister Narendra Modi led NDA government has announced of converting 100 cities into smart cities across the country and sought names of cities for the project from state governments. Karnataka government has recommended names of four cities comprising Belagavi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Mangaluru.
Urban development department recently conducted evaluation of cities to recommend them for Smart City project. In the process, Belagavi secured highest marks among all other 10 contenders by availing 96.87 marks out of 100. City engineer (North) R S Naik and accounts head of the city corporation A B Hongal provided the details of city to the top-level committee. Questions had framed on 12 different parameters including budget management, audit reports, sanitation programme, water supply, e-governance, website updates, tax collection etc.
Positive factors of Belagavi city:
City has an army base- Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC), besides air force training centre. In city, 10 of the 58 wards get 24X7 water supply on pilot bases while the project is on the verge of expanding to rest wards. Most important initiative of Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) is rejuvenation of old open wells and converting them into important source of water, especially during summer. Rejuvenation of wells is the major achievement of BCC for which it has received national award from central government. This apart, Belagavi has turned into major educational hub with housing headquarters of three universities including VTU and Rani Channamma University. Most of all, Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) where government conducts legislature session once or twice in a year.
What has to be done?
Being a fast growing city, it is suffering by huge traffic jams due to narrow roads and increasing number of vehicles on road every passing day. To mitigate the problem, ring road is the urgent need. Besides, authorities have to carry master plans widening the roads considering the future requirements. Another major requirement is underground drainages. More than 50% area of the city has no UGD facility. Sewage treatment plant is other urgent need. Present solid waste management unit at Turmuri is also facing lot of opposition from locals that need to be addressed.
Tough competition is ahead:
Although, state has recommended names of four cities including Belagavi to the centre, but tough competition is ahead as central government is selecting just 20 cities in the first phase, said city engineer (North) R S Naik, speaking to the TOI.
Once the city is selected for the project, central government will release Rs 500 crores funds for development works for the next five years phase-wise. According to the guidelines of the project, objective is to promote cities which provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to the citizens, besides clean and sustainable environment and application of 'smart' solutions.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Ravindra Uppar
Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 04.08.2015
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
