A couple of days ago, the district in-charge secretary Anjum Parvez instructed the officials to commence the process of transferring the Smart City works to the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC). Meanwhile, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have locked horns over the quality of works taken up under the Smart City project.
Recently, district minister Satish Jarkiholi alleged that the works done under the Smart City project are sub-standard and not up to the mark, considering the money spent on them. He also levelled corruption charges against BJP MLA Abhay Patil.
Interestingly, within three days of his statement, the Smart City project of Belagavi got an award from president Draupadi Murmu. BJP activists celebrated the occasion by distributing sweets under the leadership of MLA Abhay Patil.
“The president of India has provided an answer to the allegations. I don’t need to say anything regarding the graft allegations, as critics got the answer from the highest authority of India. We are happy that the Smart City project implemented in the city has been recognised by the president of India,” Abhay Patil replied.
Belagavi Smart City Limited (BSCL) managing director Syeda Afrin Banu Ballari said the project has received first place in the country in the category of cities with less than 10 lakh population. “Most of the works of this Rs 1,000 crore project have been completed,” she added.
During the first BCC general body meeting held in July, all ruling and opposition members had taken objections to the shoddy works done under the Smart City project. During the meeting, the officials accepted numerous complaints from the public against the Smart City works. The uproar in the house calmed down after the BCC commissioner Ashok Dudagunti assured of not handing over any work without inspections .
Many social activists including Rajkumar Topannavar fought a long battle against the BSCL. In such a situation, the project getting a national award has surprised everyone.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ravindra Uppar
Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 03.10.2023
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