Protests erupt over villages' inclusion in Buda

13 Sep 2023 CW Team

Residents of 28 villages surrounding Belagavi city are set to protest the government's recent decision to include their villages within the Belagavi Urban Development Corporation (Buda) jurisdiction. They argue that this move diminishes the authority of Gram Panchayats (GPs) and their members.

Former MLA Ramesh Kudachi and former mayor Shivaji Sunthakar have joined in support of the farmers opposing the government's decision. They are preparing to protest under the banner of 'Shetkari Bachao Sanghatana.'

The urban development department's instructions prompted the Buda commissioner to issue a notification incorporating these 28 villages into Buda's jurisdiction. Tenders are being solicited to create a revised master plan for the comprehensive development of the city, encompassing all 28 villages. According to Buda Commissioner Shakeel Ahmed, the government's decision will facilitate the systematic development of the city's peripheral villages.

Former mayor Shivaji Sunthakar argued that the government's decision was unlawful as it was made without prior notice or consent from the concerned Gram Panchayats. He urged the government to reconsider its order, which he believes is detrimental to the Gram Panchayats, farmers, and their members.

Sunthakar added that the government is effectively transferring the powers of Gram Panchayat members to Buda, particularly concerning infrastructure development, without consulting any GP members. This could result in more farmers losing their land, which they strongly oppose. GP members from all 28 villages plan to meet after the Ganesha festival to determine their next course of action.

Former Belagavi MLA Ramesh Kudachi pointed out that, according to the law, the government can only include areas within 6 kilometres of Buda. However, in this case, villages located 15 kilometres away from the city are being incorporated into Buda, which he deems illegal. As a member of the Congress party, he expressed his opposition to this move.

Infrastructure Urban

17 Sep 2025

DCPC Prepares for Special Campaign 5.0 with Focus on E-Waste

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is gearing up for Special Campaign 5.0, to be held from 2nd to 31st October 2025. The initiative will focus on e-waste disposal as per MoEFCC’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022, space optimisation, and enhancing workplace efficiency across field offices.Special Campaign 4.0, conducted between October 2023 and October 2024, delivered notable results in record management, grievance redressal, scrap disposal, and cleanliness drives.Key outcomes of Special Campaign 4.0Records management: 2,443 physical fil..

BlackRock India Leases 1.4 Lakh Sq Ft in Bengaluru

BlackRock Services India, the domestic arm of global asset manager BlackRock, has leased 1.4 lakh sq ft of office space at IndiQube Symphony in Bengaluru, according to Propstack data. The 10-year deal is valued at around Rs 4.10 billion.The lease, among the largest transactions in India’s co-working sector, highlights the growing preference of global institutions for flexible office providers. The agreement, commencing October 1, 2025, covers ground plus five floors in KNG Tower 1 at Ashoknagar, MG Road — one of Bengaluru’s prime commercial hubs.As per the lease document, BlackRock will ..

L&T Bags Rs 25–50 Bn Order for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Track Works

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Transportation Infrastructure business has secured an order valued between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 billion from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.The contract, Package T1, involves the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 156 route km of high-speed ballastless track on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis. The stretch runs from Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex to Zaroli village in Gujarat and includes 21 km of underground track and 135 km of elevated viaduct.Se..