Latest news with #BelagaviCityCorporation
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
E-Khata bribe allegations shake Belagavi Council
Belagavi: Accusations of widespread corruption in e-Khata registration at the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) have sparked a heated debate. At Thursday's council meeting, MLAs and corporators alleged that revenue staff is demanding bribes ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 for property registrations. The claims fuelled public concern over transparency and accountability in the civic body. The process of e-Aasthi or e-Khata registration of properties under the classification of A, B, and C is underway in Belagavi city and across the district. An estimated 1.6 lakh properties need to be registered under e-Khata within the limits of Belagavi Corporation. The consolidation of documents required for e-property registration is facing many challenges as well. The common people are expressing strong dissatisfaction against this kind of exploitation, as the e-Khata registration will be processed only if the property owners come through intermediaries. A serious discussion took place in the BCC general meeting on the allegations of widespread corruption in e-Aasthi or e-Khata registration, arbitrary licensing of multi-storey buildings, and interference of middlemen in the documentation of properties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 & 4 BHK Starts ₹1.65 Cr in Kukatpally Honer Signatis Book Now Undo According to a person who works as a middleman in e-property registration, the properties with legal documents are fewer in the BCC limit. Now, efforts are underway to regularise such properties by creating records. Many public representatives, including MLAs, are supporting the regularisation of encroached properties. It has resulted in the presence of middlemen in the corporation. The middlemen have emerged to create legal documents. MLA Abhay Patil took the officials to task in the council meeting, saying that the officials apply the laws and rules only for poor and middle-class people. However, they do not ask anything of those who are illegally building 10 to 15-storey apartments in the city. He cautioned that if this kind of exploitation is not stopped, the MLAs themselves will have to start the e-Khata distribution campaign.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BCC collects record Rs 44.7 crore property tax in Q1, eyes Rs 75 crore target
Belagavi: The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) set an ambitious target of collecting Rs 75 crore in property tax for the financial year 2025–26. In a remarkable start, the civic body already collected Rs 44.7 crore in the first quarter, boosted by a 5% rebate scheme that concluded on June 30. According to sources, this marks the highest-ever Q1 property tax collection in BCC's history. The civic body attributes this achievement to a robust awareness campaign promoting the rebate, along with systematic efforts to plug revenue leakages. With over Rs 44.7 crore already in its coffers, the BCC now aims to collect the remaining Rs 30 crore in the coming quarters to meet its goal. "This is a moment to thank and congratulate the citizens of Belagavi, who came forward to pay their taxes early and availed the rebate, contributing to the city's development," said BCC commissioner Shubha B, speaking to the TOI. "Our internal target is Rs 79 crore, but we are aiming to at least meet Rs 75 crore." To maintain the revenue momentum, the BCC has now turned its attention to unauthorised buildings and tax defaulters. Under new norms, owners of unlawful constructions are now required to pay a single tax from this financial year, while any dues pending up to 2024 will attract double taxation. "We are issuing notices and re-measuring such properties to ensure accurate assessment," the commissioner stated. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo by Taboola by Taboola Meanwhile, the civic body has also prepared a list of chronic tax defaulters and initiated recovery measures. "Notices have been sent, and we have warned of property attachment in long-pending cases. A significant number of defaulters have been identified and targeted this year," Shubha B added.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Whistleblowers hint at legal fight against BCC mayor
Pic: RTI and social activists Sujit Mulgund and Rajeev Topannavar, along with HC lawyer Nitin Bolabandi spoke at a press conference on Saturday Belagavi: RTI and social activists Sujit Mulgund and Rajeev Topannavar, along with high court lawyer Nitin Bolabandi, have demanded that Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) mayor Mangesh Pawar and corporator Jayant Jadhav, who were disqualified over allegations of violating office of profit norms, should resign immediately. Senior officials, including the Belagavi City Corporation Commissioner, should take legal action in this regard. If the govt continues to be negligent, they will take to the streets and fight, along with intensifying the legal battle. Speaking to the media on Saturday, the social activists said they obtained information about the Belagavi mayor and corporator through RTI. It has come to light that they gave false information while submitting their asset details. This is a serious violation of Section 19 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, by corporators. According to Section 19, it is mandatory for every corporator to file annual declarations of assets and liabilities not only for themselves but also for their spouse and dependent family members. Failure to do so, or filing a false or incomplete declaration, will automatically result in dismissal from office. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Sub-section (1) of Section 19 mandates that every councillor shall file with the mayor of the corporation a declaration of all assets owned by them and their family members. This must be done within a month of assuming office after election. Sub-section (2) causes automatic cessation of councillorship should they fail to file such a declaration or if the one filed is false or incorrect. Sub-section (3) provides that if any question as to the cessation of councillorship should arise, the same shall be finally decided by the govt on a reference being made by the corporation. Obviously, this provision has been enacted to bring probity and transparency to political functionaries in local bodies. "On what basis are disqualified city employees allowed to hold office and exercise power? According to the Karnataka Municipal Act, they cannot even vote. This would be a crime. Elected representatives who hide assets cannot continue in office. We demand immediate verification of asset declarations and strict enforcement of the law. We will pursue legal remedies if the corporation fails to take action," the activists said.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC grants temporary relief to Belagavi mayor and corporator in ‘office of profit' case
Belagavi: The Karnataka high court on Tuesday granted temporary relief to Belagavi mayor Mangesh Pawar and corporator Jayant Jadhav, whose membership in the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) was recently disqualified over allegations of holding an office of profit. The court stayed the disqualification order passed by urban development (UD) secretary Deepa Cholan on June 29, allowing both elected representatives to retain their positions pending further hearings. The matter has been posted for the next hearing on Monday. The disqualification was based on a complaint filed by social activist Sujit Mulgund, who alleged that both corporators acquired commercial outlets owned by BCC at Tinisu Katte through a public auction in Dec 2020. The properties were registered in the names of their wives. According to the UD secretary's order, the corporators failed to declare the BCC outlet obtained through public auction after being elected in Sept 2021, thereby violating Section 26(1)(K) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act. The disqualification was enforced following an inquiry led by Belagavi regional commissioner SB Shettennavar and confirmed by secretary Cholan. The high court's interim order is being seen as a significant victory for both corporators and the BJP, which holds a majority in the BCC. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Heavy rain batters Belagavi: schools shut, emergency teams deployed
Belagavi: In view of the incessant rainfall, District Disaster Management Authority chairman and deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshad extended a holiday for all Anganwadi centres, schools, and colleges (up to PUC II) on Thursday as a precautionary measure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His order also applied to Khanapur and Kittur taluks. The rains over the past three days has severely disrupted normal life in Belagavi city and surrounding areas. Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) deployed three emergency response teams to address crises and provide immediate relief to affected residents. Belagavi city received 65mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, higher than the average, according to sources from Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre. Belagavi taluk recorded 58.8mm against the normal 7.3mm, while Peeranwadi village reported a massive 100mm of rainfall. Widespread disruption in city Rain-related challenges continued to mount in Belagavi city. Key areas such as Goaves, Fort Road and Congress Road reported waterlogging. Uprooted trees and fallen electric poles were reported across city zones, affecting vehicular movement and power supply. Traffic near Central Post Office was blocked for hours after a tree collapsed on the road. BCC personnel later cleared the obstruction. In Vishweshwaraiah Nagar, a lorry got stuck in an open gutter obscured by rainwater on Wednesday early morning, highlighting the danger posed by poor drainage visibility. Blocked drains and overflowing gutters compounded the crisis, with rainwater mixed with waste entering homes in low-lying areas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now BCC response and lapses BCC commissioner Shuba B along with officials visited affected areas. The civic body stationed three JCB machines and water-sucking units on standby to respond to emergencies. Power outages became frequent as tree branches continued to fall on electric lines. Notably, the BCC and the forest department planned to trim hazardous branches before the onset of monsoon and even allocated Rs 10 lakh for the task. However, delays in execution have now resulted in severe inconvenience to the public. Taluk-wise rainfall Among the taluks, Khanapur recorded the highest rainfall at 103mm in the past 24 hours (against the normal 16.4 mm), followed by Belagavi with 58.8mm, Kittur with 37.3mm, Nippani with 15.6mm and Bailhongal with 14.9mm. The lowest rainfall of 1.2mm was recorded in Ramdurg. Kalakatta bridge in Kangrali (KH) also reported flooding due to heavy downpours.
