Civil society groups urge new MPs to address challenges facing Belagavi district on priority

New MPs from Belagavi district face challenges like poverty, unemployment, and agricultural issues needing urgent attention.

There are several challenges before the new MPs from Belagavi district. Civil society groups want them to address these issues on priority.

There are 18 Assembly segments in Belagavi district and eight each are part of Belagavi and Chikkodi parliamentary seats. The remaining two Assembly seats, Kittur and Khanapur, are part of the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency.

The problems of the region are the same as those of the other North Karnataka districts. Widespread poverty, unemployment and low education levels are plaguing the region.

Farmers want the two MPs, Jagadish Shettar (BJP) and Priyanka Jarkiholi (Congress) to bring pressure on the Union government to speed up approvals for the Mahadayi Basin projects [Kalasa and Banduri schemes]. Any MP from Belagavi who succeeds in getting them will never be forgotten by farmers, said Vijay Kulkarni, president of the Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti.

“Belagavi has some of the oldest industrial areas established in South India. However, their potential for expansion and diversification has not been achieved,” says Rohan Juvali, former president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

He demands strengthening of such areas in Belagavi and establishment of new industrial areas in Chikkodi constituency.

Villages and towns in Belagavi and Chikkodi constituencies suffer from the twin problems of drought and flood.