Latest news with #SujitMulgund
Time of India
3 days ago
- 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.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. released additional water to industries from Hidkal dam, say farmers
Activists and farmers leaders have complained that the State government had released more than twice the amount of water than stipulated for industries from the Hidkal dam in Belagavi district. The Department of Irrigation, under requests from the Department of Industries has released over 0.229 tmcft. of Ghataprabha river water for industries, against the allocation of 0.1 tmcft. of water from the Raja Lakhamagouda reservoir. The full reservoir capacity is 51 tmcft. The government's response has become important in the wake of reports that the department of industries has obtained the release of a further 0.5tmcft. of water from the dam to the Dharwad industrial area. A Right To Information application by activist Sujit Mulgund has revealed that from the dam State government had released 'excess water' to industries. 'This is legally and ethically wrong. While the rule says that only 0.1 tmcft. is to be set aside for industries. Secondly, the cities of Belagavi, Bagalkot and en route villages depend on the Hidkal dam for drinking water. In fact, they suffer from water scarcity during summer months as the water levels in the dam are reduced. In such a situation, it is a cruel joke on the people of north Karnataka to divert drinking water for industries,'' he said. 'The State government has also acted in a non-democratic manner, by not taking into confidence, the local irrigation consultative committee of the Hidkal dam, in deciding to release water to industries,' he said. This dam was not built to benefit just a few industries. Its primary task is to support the rural poor, Mr. Mulgund said. 'The State government has violated the National Water Policy of 2011, that gives preference to drinking water and agriculture, over industrial usage,' he added. A delegation of farmers led by former Minister Shashikant Naik has urged the State government not to draw water from Hidkal for Dharwad industrial area. Another team led by water expert B. Anand Kumar, advocate Nitin Tolbandi, Mr. Mulgund and others have suggested that treated sewage water from Belagavi and Dharwad could be utilised for industrial purposes, rather than drinking water from dams. Mr. Naik said they would appeal to the State government again, to stop supply of Ghataprabha waters to industrial areas. 'If the government does not listen to us, we will protest and stop the water supply pipeline works,' he said. Established in 1961, the Hidkal Dam was meant exclusively for irrigation and drinking water. It is named after Raja Lakhamagouda, the erstwhile head of a local princely state, and philanthropist who donated land and resources to several educational institutions in British India.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RTI revelation exposes massive over-allocation of Hidkal dam water to industries
Belagavi: In a significant development that could intensify the ongoing opposition to the diversion of Hidkal Dam water to industries in Hubballi-Dharwad, activist and whistleblower Sujit Mulgund unveiled official documents revealing that industrial units received nearly 22 times more water than the original allocation. Mulgund shared a letter from the assistant executive engineer of the Karnataka Niravari Nigam Limited (KNNL), CBC subdivision No. 2, dated July 6, 2024. The letter, addressed to the executive engineer, discloses that only 0.1 tmcft of water was initially allocated to industries under the project report. However, the allocation surged to 0.2 tmcft gradually, and there is an additional fresh demand of 0.5 tmcft under the Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project, part of the Suvarna Karnataka Corridor initiative. Crucially, the letter indicates that the excess allocation already far surpassed the sanctioned limit. If the additional 0.5 tmcft is approved, it would come at the cost of irrigation water meant for farmers, a point likely to fuel further unrest among farming communities. Last month, the Karnataka govt approved the controversial diversion of 0.5 tmcft from Hidkal Dam to industrial areas in Hubballi-Dharwad, sparking widespread protests across Belagavi and neighbouring districts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Farmers and civil society groups decried the move, arguing it threatens their livelihood and violates the dam's original purpose. Earlier, water resources minister MB Patil claimed that the water being diverted was within the allocated limits. However, Mulgund's findings—obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act—contradict the minister's statement. Pipeline construction for the water diversion began over four months ago—without formal approval, tenders, or even informing the local administration, including district minister Satish Jarkiholi. The work only came to light when local farmers discovered pipelines being laid across their fields. In response, several organisations launched protests under the slogan 'Namma Neeru, Namma Hakku', prompting the Belagavi DC to halt the work temporarily. Despite the opposition, the project resumed following a green signal from the state cabinet. Activist Mulgund sought further details under RTI—including the tender cost, official approvals, and progress reports—but KNNL denied the information, citing confidentiality. Constructed in 1961 and named after former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Hidkal dam was built to provide irrigation and drinking water. Though it has a storage capacity of 51 tmcft, effective availability is only around 44 tmcft due to siltation and unusable reserves. Speaking to the TOI, Mulgund criticised the lack of transparency. "The RTI documents clearly prove that more water has already been diverted to industries than originally sanctioned. Any additional diversion will directly impact farmers in Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapura," he said.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Our Water Our Right' campaign: Greens, forums to hold protest
Belagavi: Environmentalists and leaders of various organisations, who are fighting for the survival of Mahadayi and the Western Ghats under the slogan 'Our Water Our Right' campaign, decided to take up a massive protest in Belagavi on June 3 to raise awareness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The leaders, who held a meeting at the Maratha Mandir in Belagavi on Tuesday, reached a unanimous decision in this regard. Dilip Kamath, an environmentalist, said that the Gadgil Report and Kasturirangan Report were submitted to the central govt in the past. The Gadgil Report, which meticulously analysed the extinction and survival of the Western Ghats, warned that no activities that could harm the environment should be carried out in the vicinity of the Western Ghats region. The report also highlighted the biodiversity of the Western Ghats region and the immense benefits it brings to the country, providing a detailed report on the protection of the Western Ghats. Everyone needs to join hands for the survival of the Western Ghats by abandoning the Kalasa Banduri project. Sujit Mulgund, a social activist, said that water is already being supplied to Hubballi-Dharwad through Malaprabha reservoir. Farmers in Bagalkot and Ramdurg taluks are using water from the Malaprabha reservoir to grow two crops, while farmers in Navalgund, Nargund, and Dharwad are using this water for more than two crops. The amount of water used from the Malaprabha reservoir has increased, with claims that this project is for drinking water. Representatives and officials of the area informed that the areas of Hubballi, Dharwad, Navalgund, and Nargund will not face any shortage of drinking water till 2041. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They expressed concern that work is now underway to transport more water to the twin cities through a pipeline, which could lead to a shortage of drinking water in the Belagavi area. The Mahadayi diversion project will be abandoned as it will harm the Western Ghats. Captain Nitin Dhond, an environmentalist, stated that the Mahadayi River travels approximately 1,500 kilometres from its source to the sea. The Malaprabha River plays a significant role in environmental protection by providing habitat for numerous plants and trees. It is a good move to supply drinking water to Hubballi and Dharwad from the Malaprabha reservoir. Belgaum may face drinking water problems in the future as more water is lifted from the Malaprabha River to supply water to industrial areas of Hubballi, Dharwad, and sugar factories of politicians. Therefore, it is not appropriate to implement any projects here which will harm the Malaprabha River and the Western Ghats. Advocate Nitin Bolbandi, farmer leader Chunappa Poojeri, Sidagouda Modagi, Mallesh Chougale, environmentalists, farmer leaders, and Dalit leaders were present.
