Many challenges in Belagavi before new MPs, say civil society groups

Civil society groups have said there are several challenges in Belagavi before the new MPs-elect and they should be addressed on priority. Of the 18 Assembly segments in Belagavi district, eight each are part of Belagavi and Chikkodi Lok Sabha seats. Two Assembly seats, Kittur and Khanapur, are part of the Uttara Kannada LS constituency.

Civil society groups have said there are several challenges in Belagavi before the new MPs-elect and they should be addressed on priority. Of the 18 Assembly segments in Belagavi district, eight each are part of Belagavi and Chikkodi Lok Sabha seats. Two Assembly seats, Kittur and Khanapur, are part of the Uttara Kannada LS constituency.

“The problems of the region are the same as those of other northern Karnataka districts. Widespread poverty, unemployment, and low education levels are plaguing the region. Farmers want the two MPs-elect, Jagadish Shettar and Priyanka Jarkiholi, to bring pressure on the Centre to speed up approvals for the Mahadayi project. Any Belagavi MP who succeeds in getting them, will never be forgotten by farmers,” said Vijay Kulkarni, president of the Kalasa Bandori 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 Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries. He demanded strengthening of such areas in Belagavi and establishment of new industrial areas in Chikkodi.

Villages and towns in Belagavi and Chikkodi constituencies suffer from the twin problems of drought and floods. Farmers feel that both these conditions can be addressed by scientific and transparent management of the dams on the Krishna and its tributaries in the region.

“There are at least 11 dams on the Krishna and its five tributaries from the Maharashtra border to the Almatti dam in Bagalkot district. If they are managed properly, crop loss and other problems can be mitigated to a large extent,” said Sidagouda Modagi, Krishik Samaj president.

Issues that need urgent attention are crop loss and displacement of villages owing to floods in the Krishna basin. The floods are caused not only by heavy rains, but also by unexpected release of water from dams in Maharashtra, officers say.

“Management of dams and water systems should not be left to individual States. That should be done as part of a national policy,” says Balasaheb Lokapur, Athani=based writer.