Malmaruti police, Belagavi have arrested a man accused of deceiving the public by impersonating a CBI officer. The suspect, Dayananda Ramu Jindrale, 33, is a resident of Anjaneya Nagar, originally from Islampur in Hukkeri Taluk.

The arrest followed a complaint by Afzal Beedi, a resident of Autonagar. Beedi reported that Dayananda had asked him for Rs 5 lakh, claiming he needed the money for a friend’s medical treatment following an accident. Beedi provided Dayananda with Rs 50,000 and two cheques totaling Rs 3 lakh. However, he never received a refund.

Dayananda allegedly posed as a CBI officer and conned unemployed youths by promising them jobs in the KSRTC, Forest Department, and Excise Department in exchange for money.

The investigation revealed that many people had been scammed in areas including Nippani, Raibag, Kagawad, Chikkodi, and Harugeri. The accused was found with 10 to 12 ATM cards and a Forest Department ID card. He has been arrested and produced before the court, and police are conducting further investigations.

MP Rajya Sabha Iranna Kadadi had asked a question in the Rajya Sabha to which MoRTH minister Nitin Gadkari replied about the various National Highways work undertaken in Karnataka and concerning Belagavi the below three have been mentioned.

Six laning Belagavi to Sankeshwar bypass (Pkg – 1) (NH4) Total Project cost [TPC] (Rs. in Cr.)1479.3 of 40.017km Completed 53.61%

Six laning Sankeshwar bypass to MH/KA Border (Pkg – 2) (NH-4) – Rs. 1388.7
Length 37.83km Completed –42.45%

Balance work of 2L PS from Km 30.800 to Km 70.800 and 2L with Rigid Carriageway from Km 70.800 to km 84.120 of Khanapur- KA/GOA Border section of NH-4A – 53.32 km – Completed 49.59%

The city corporation Belagavi is set to establish vending zones at three locations: Nargundkar Bhave Chowk, Kanda Market, and Kotwal Galli. A budget of Rs 1.10 crore has been allocated for the project, as revealed by Deputy Commissioner of Administration Udayakumar Talwar during a City Trade Committee meeting at the Municipal Corporation on Wednesday.

These vending zones will include amenities such as roofs, water supply, lighting, and toilets. However, the implementation is pending a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the police department. Police representatives assured that the process for granting the NOC is underway and will be completed soon.

In addition, there was a demand for exempting ground rent for the vendors, which will be decided upon shortly. The proposal, once approved by the municipal corporation’s general meeting, will be sent to the government for final approval.

Notably, a proposal for a vending zone in Dane Galli, Shahapur, has been temporarily shelved.

In a potentially disastrous incident, a boat carrying the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team capsized in the Krishna River near Kudachi Bridge. The boat was carrying linemen to repair a jack well.

As the boat overturned, a local lineman and a waterman, also onboard, managed to save themselves by clinging to a tree on the riverbank. The quick response of a second NDRF boat ensured that all six people on the capsized vessel were safely rescued.

The incident occurred amidst a significant influx of water into the Krishna River, which has now reached the banks, causing concern for the local community. Hescom has been called to repair the Jack well near the bridge. Fortunately, thanks to the swift actions of the NDRF, a major disaster was averted.

Heavy rains in the Western Ghats have led to severe flooding in the Belagavi district, traversed by seven rivers. The rising waters have inundated tens of villages, covering thousands of acres of land, and causing significant disruption and tragedy. The Krishna, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Dudhganga, Vedaganga, Markandeya, and Hiranyakeshi rivers have all overflowed, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the district.

To date, 46 villages have been submerged, affecting 10,304 people from 3,684 families. These individuals have been forced to leave their homes, abandoning everything they had, and have sought refuge in care centers. The district has set up 54 care centers, where displaced persons and their families, pets, and livestock are taking shelter. The centers are filled with people, from small children to the elderly, all anxious about their uncertain futures.

The flood has destroyed 12 houses and partially damaged 535 others. Tragically, five lives have been lost. Additionally, 40 bridges have been submerged, cutting off connectivity and leaving people struggling. The relentless rain in the Western Ghats shows no signs of stopping, adding to the distress of the affected population.

The Mathura Police have apprehended four members of a dacoit gang responsible for a highway robbery near Kittur, Belagavi on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway a month ago. The gang absconded with over Rs 10 lakh from a Karnataka steel businessman. During the arrest, two suspects were shot in the leg in an encounter with the police from Jaint police station and the SOG team. All four were sent to jail on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on June 30, between 6:30 and 7:00 am, when a Nexon car with the number KA 17 MA 1992, traveling from Belagavi to Shivamogga, was intercepted and robbed of Rs 10 lakh. The victims, Sunil Prajapat and Srichand, were beaten up during the robbery. An FIR was lodged at Kittur police station on July 3.

SSP Shailesh Kumar Pandey reported that information about a car without a number plate carrying armed criminals on the highway led to a police blockade on Devi Atas Bamba Road from Ramtal Road. When the police attempted to stop the car, the criminals opened fire, resulting in two of them being shot in the leg in retaliation. The remaining two suspects were safely apprehended. The police recovered four pistols, nine cartridges, and Rs 10.35 lakh from the car. The accused were identified as Hiranath from Bhadowas, Bikaner; Ravi alias Ravindra from Gopal Nagar, Highway, Mathura; Laxmannath from Binadesar, Churu, Rajasthan; and Rahul from Kamai, Barsana, Mathura. Hiranath and Ravi sustained leg injuries during the encounter.

The four suspects have confessed to the robbery near Kittur. The Kittur police will take custody of them after the court process is completed. The recovered Rs 10.35 lakh was allegedly taken by the gang along with associates Dharmendra alias Kulli and Arun, both from Mathura, and Bhagwan Shah from Alwar, Rajasthan, during the June 30 robbery.

SSP Pandey stated that Karnataka police have been informed about the arrests. A reward of Rs 25,000 will be awarded to the SOG and Jaint police team for apprehending the criminals.

The court process is ongoing, and another team will be dispatched to Mathura soon. The police have seized Rs 10 lakh, a village pistol, and 16 cartridges from the suspects.

Young Man Missing After Motorcycle Accident Near Flooded Markendeya River

A young man is missing after his motorcycle plunged into the Markendeya River while crossing a flooded road near Kangrali KH village in Belagavi taluk. The incident occurred on Saturday evening. Omkar Arun Patil (23), from Alatga village, is feared to have been swept away by the current. His sibling, Jyotinath, managed to swim to safety.

The motorcycle lost balance while traveling from Alatga village towards Kangrali Khurd, causing it to fall into the Nala (drain) along with the riders. Jyotinath Patil (25) was rescued, but Omkar Patil remains missing. Kakati police and the NDRF have arrived at the scene and are searching for the missing young man in the nala.

The brothers were on their way to Kangrali Khurd for a haircut around 7:30 PM when the accident occurred. Jyotinath managed to grab onto a bush and pull himself to safety, but Omkar was swept away by the current. Authorities suspect that the missing youth may have been carried into the Markandeya River, as water from the drain flows into it. A search operation is currently underway.

by Dr. Madhav Prabhu

Friendship Day is something that reminds us of the most beautiful relationships we ever had. When amongst friends you can be yourself, you don’t need to fake, you don’t need to act, and you don’t need to be embarrassed for what you are or shy to express your stupidest ideas. But there are times when friends do put us in a tight spot.

Have you ever been in a situation where you could be the odd man out? The feeling of being alone in the crowd of friends yet being the subject of the crowd, or feeling as if you were in an alien world, someplace you would never want to be.

Every person has moments to remember where his friends have put him in a tight spot and the experiences are ones we remember all our lives.

Some of the worst outcasts in a group of friends are people who don’t drink fermented grain and fruit juice something we loosely call alcohol, usually, these individuals rely on Coke or Thumbs Up for giving them entry into the elite company of those who can consume liquor. The reason for the choice of cola-colored drinks is because, when you have a glass in your hand it feels as if you may have developed a taste for the harder ones or sometimes even get away with saying that you have mixed it up.

Saying you don’t drink is embarrassing. Holding a fruit punch is even more embarrassing. There is always a friend who wants to offer you a drink, but that’s only if you are a virgin with alcohol because he wants to apparently baptize you to the religion of alcoholics. I can assure you that the love for you is over once you have converted and then you need to buy your own drink every single time.

There are also sermons on how to drink, which drink is good, how to savor the drink on your tongue before you gulp it, how to dilute it, and what diluents can be used. Then there is another friend out there ready to convince you that the drink is good for the heart to the point that you would think you will have a heart attack if you do not drink. Then again if you do attempt to try it out and be a little soft you are told you are with a lady’s drink and that men have separate drinks which they have to choose. Somehow I don’t understand what’s a gent’s drink and a lady’s drink, both give you a kick right, and once drunk where is the difference between a gentleman and a sweet lady? Somehow nobody trusts you if you don’t drink, the person who is drunk will always drive, he will never trust a person with normal sensorium to take him home, you have to sit and watch him ferry you to the edge of the two worlds with your heart in your mouth and sometimes wonder if it was better being drunk.

As if the drink is not enough a simpleton has to put up with food too, and if the poor guy is a vegetarian then all hell breaks loose. It starts from the discussion of where to go Ratnasheela or Vinayak savji, Ambica, Maratha or Bajirao, Barbeque Nation, Niyaz and all that, somewhere the vegetarian voice is lost like Manmohan Singh in Congress party, imagine if you say let’s go to Suruchi and have a gujju thali how many would still come around for the party.

We then have categories of friends, some hardcore who will eat anything but restrict their palates only for social sanctions, some only chicken, some only mutton, some eat only rice from biryani and gravy from curry but not the meat, some who don’t eat in a nonveg restaurant and some who need separate utensils for veg food. You enter the place you have smoke, flavor, and curry all over, all of it makes you feel so alien, why did I come here?

The only saving grace is the egg curry, this dish is one of the most controversial ever. Some believe it’s non-veg others say that since the eggs are not fertilized, they are nothing but vegetable proteins. It’s actually convenient, it’s a vegetable for the vegetarians and nonveg for the other group.

But here in our situation, it’s more of a compromise, first, it is your friends saying if not mutton at least eat egg, as if it’s out of sympathy for a malnourished pauper, and many times you do indulge in a way to say that I am also eating non-veg and I am fit for your company. There are requests here too like at least take some gravy, try one piece, and so on. You also get sermons on how animal proteins are important for the body and how meat had all the iron and vitamins in the world. Sometimes though you get lucky and your friends give you lots of sympathies, ayyo you are eating veg, order something more or perhaps paap you are eating veg please don’t contribute to the bill the rest of us will go Dutch, as if veg food is not food at all, as if there is no substance to it to deserve a bill.

There are picnics like Tillari, Jamboti, Pargad, Amboli etc etc where you have to carry your dal rice because your friends are going to cook chuli warcha mutton. But still, it’s worth going with your friends because their company makes every morsel that much tastier.

The perils of gentlemen don’t end here, we are scared even more when we are to perform the most ancient art form, the dance. Most of us have two left feet as they say and shaking the body is quite some effort, but friends being friends need to take you along. They expect you to be there on the dance floor and you feel like you are a log of wood, just when you are about to go away someone will pull you back exposing your stiffness more and more. Some can perform excellently but for us, we have to find other forms like snake dance, jump dance and parade dance, actually, all these are not dances but weird voluntary motor activities which at the peak of music cover up for your lack of agility.

Then there are few friends who will teach you to dance or rather attempt to do that, by the time you are completely convinced you cannot dance there is a beautiful girl on the floor and you can’t afford to leave, well what happens after that is what certifies we have evolved from monkeys because the dance forms soon start mimicking our ancestors. Not going on the floor is a spoilsport and you don’t dare do that. But on the dance floor, it’s almost an alien planet on which you do a moonwalk. Then there are dress codes too, you don’t do walts in jeans and disco in formals but somehow you are stuck with the opposite dress every time your friends decide to take you for a dance. But however alien you feel in such dances they are the only ones you remember in your life as memories of days with your friends

Recently I witnessed a fancy dress competition and the theme was freedom fighters, there were lines of Jhashi ki Rani’s, Kittur Chennama’s, Tilak’s, Gandhi’s and Nehru’s but one student and his parents read it wrong, and dressed their child as a British army officer, imagine what the child went through standing amongst hordes of freedom fighters, I can imagine why the British left India. I actually felt sorry for the guy he was quite well dressed though and I remembered one such instance when I faced a similar situation, I went to the beach in formal wear and leather shoes, and it was not only me the entire group of decent gentlemen friends, we had to quit the beach looking at the expressions of the semi-nude foreigners who had made it their home, the beach is not a place for well-dressed gentlemen it seems.

There must have been many such things you remember having done with your friends, memories which you can never forget, at that moment they would embarrass you just like your mother does when she thinks she is too cool to stay out of your friend’s group, but it’s all worth doing for the company of friends.

Bharatesh Institute of Technology (BIT), a premier engineering college under the aegis of Bharatesh Education Trust, today announced a strategic collaboration with the Belagavi Startups Association (BSA). The partnership aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry exposure for BIT students. BIT became the first engineering college in this part of Karnataka to forge such a partnership even before starting its first batch which is joining this academic year.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed on Monday, August 5, 2024, between the representatives of both institutions to solidify this collaboration. Through this partnership, BIT’s Innovation, Incubation, and Entrepreneurship Centre will provide support to several promising startups, including

1. TURTU India LLP,

2. Agrimitra Plug-In LLP,

3. Jabsa Infotech Pvt Ltd,

4. Balaloka Technologies Private Limited,

5. Localview Tech private limited,

6. Shasta Global Foundation,

7. Uilatech LLP,

8. Media Buddy,

9. SMK SOLUTIONS, and

10. DIGITOMATIC SERVICES (OPC) Private Ltd.

BIT is offering over 2000 sq. feet of working space to BSA companies at its campus along with all facilities required including 8 interns to each company. This collaboration shall offer immense benefits to BIT students through several opportunities such as internships, guest lectures, and hands-on experience in the industry. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, BIT aims to equip its students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the competitive professional landscape.

About Bharatesh Institute of Technology

Bharatesh Institute of Technology is the newest and 20th institute in the 62 year old Bharatesh Education Trust family. It offers Bachelor of Engineering degree in 4 branches-

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

2. Computer Science and Engineering

3. Electronics and Communication Engineering

4. Information Science

The college is approved by AICTE, recognized by Govt. of Karnataka and affiliated to VTU-Belagavi. It is situated at a brand new building in Basavan Kudachi, Belagavi.

About Belagavi Startups Association (BSA)

BSA is a dynamic and supportive community dedicated to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in Belagavi. This association serves as a vital resource for budding entrepreneurs, offering a platform where ideas can flourish and startups can thrive. With a mission to empower innovators and drive economic growth, the association plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the local business landscape.

Vice Chairman of Bharatesh Education Trust (BET) Shri Shripal Khemalapure, Secretary Shri Vinod Doddanavar, Jt. Secretary Shri Prakash Upadhye, Treasurer Shri Bhushan Mirji, Managing Committee Member Shri Ashok Danawade, BIT Governing Council Chairman Shri Shashank Lengade and member Dr. Anil Shirahatti, Principal of BIT Dr. Veena Karchi and Administrator of BIT Dr. Gomatesh Ravannavar were present along with representatives of all 10 companies who signed MoU with Bharatesh.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a compensation package of Rs 1.2 lakh and the provision of new houses for those whose homes were completely damaged due to recent rains. During a media interaction in the flood-affected Belagavi district, he addressed allegations from the BJP about discriminatory aid distribution. He clarified that the previous government under BS Yeddyurappa had promised Rs 5 lakh for complete house damage, but the aid was mismanaged, and many victims only received the first installment. In response, the government decided on the Rs 1.2 lakh compensation and housing provision. Siddaramaiah also mentioned that relocating frequently submerged villages could be considered a permanent solution, depending on public cooperation.

During his visit on Monday, the Chief Minister toured several flood-affected areas in Gokak city, including a relief center at Government Municipal College. He arrived at Sambra airport in Belagavi and traveled by road to Gokak, where he inspected the submerged Lolasur bridge over the Ghataprabha river.

MLA Balachandra Jarakiholi requested the construction of a new bridge, while District in-charge minister Satish Jarakiholi highlighted the annual challenges faced due to the old bridge. The Chief Minister assured that necessary measures, including food and medical facilities, would be provided to the affected families.

Development Of Residential Layout Scheme No 61 Kanbargi, Belagavi (Boundary Fixation For Layout)  – 2085794.55

Proposed Construction Of Layoff Drain At Shivteerth Nagar, Belagavi North Constituency – 1539328.93

Improvements To Shree Nagar Garden In Shree Nagar, Belagavi North Constituency – 2356859.6

Improvements To Rukmini Nagar Park In Rukmini Nagar, Belagavi North Constituency- 2366176.26

Improvements To Nakshatra Park In Vinayak Nagar, Belagavi North Constituency – 2030584.04

Improvements To Radha Krishna Park In Sadashiv Nagar, Belagavi North Constituency- 2427422.23

Shifting of UGD line for the purpose of construction of railways over bridge ROB coming up near 3rd Railway gate, Belagavi. – 9446000

Construction of 10 seats Public Toilets in W. No.35, Shree Nagar Garden, M. M. Extn Police station, Belagavi – 2000000

Drilling of Borewell at Vantamuri Colony Shree Nagar in Ward No.35 Belagavi. – 644000

Temporary arrangements for fair and festival to be organized annually within city corporation Belagavi – 9950000

Providing and Fixing Electrical Poles, Lines and Shifting of Electrical Poles in Ward No 57 of Belagavi. – 425000

Construction of CC road at Bhandarshah Galli and Khanjar Galli bol in Ward No.2 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of CD Near Anand Apartment at Sadashiv Nagar Belagavi.- 1105000

Construction of RCC Drain Patil Galli Near Masidi and Near Dondiba Patil House at kanabargi in Ward No 47 Belagavi. – 1251999.99

Construction of RCC drain and Improvements to Road Near Shivashakti Temple in Ward No.46 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of Drain at TV Center Hanuman Nagar in Ward No 32 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of Drain at Vinayak Nagar Circle, Factory Road and Near HESCOM Substation Police Colony Ward N.o 31 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of Drain and CD at 4th and 5th cross Azam Nagar Ward No.25 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of RCC drain and CD near Yusufiya Majjid Habib Majjid and 2nd Cross Subhash Nagar in Ward No.18 Belagavi – 1252000

Laying of UGD line at Korvi (Bhovi) Galli in Ward No.01, Belagavi. – 1000000

Providing and laying of UGD line at Sector No.9 Rani Channamma Marg in Ward No.35 Belagavi. – 1252000

Construction of RCC drain and CD at Kalaigar Galli from Aslam House Shop to Darga in Ward No.6, Belagavi – 1252000

Costruction of RCC drain and CD at Papamala Main road from Brahmaling Temple to Opposite of Salunke House and Shivaji road from 7th cross road to Bhavani Nagar Main road in Ward No.30, Belagavi- 1252000

Construction of RCC drain from Raju mokate house to Parasharam Sontakki house & Ram Mokate house to Shashikant Sankpal House Devang Nagar 5th w. no. 56, Belagavi. 1252000

Replacement of UGD at Kangral Galli and Construction of Strom water drain from Kakatives road Ganachari galli corner to Shanivarkhoot corner in Ward No.7 Belagavi.1252000

Construction of RCC Drain at Indira Nagar from Mestri house to Shivale house, Siddatek bldg to Margai temple & Shambhavi Clinic to Revankar Jewellars Angol in w. no. 52, Belagavi 1252000

Construction of RCC drain in front of Rao Industries Nazar Camp in w. no. 41, Belagavi 1252000

Providing pavers at Mangai Nagar 5th Cross from Shindoor laxman House to Krishna Lokare House in Ward No.49 Belagavi 1252000

Providing pavers at Sahyadri Colony(Sai Shradda Colony) near Shivsadan building & Parijat Colony Maruti Mandir in w. no. 51 Belagavi – 340000

Providing & Laying UGD line at Bharat Nagar 1st & 2nd Basavaraj Neginhal to Ashok Gollar in w. no. 39, Belagavi – 1252000

Improvements to Ashpalt road at Mahadwar road 3rd cross from Jadhav house to Balla House and Providing Pavers road from Rajendra Burkar house to Jadhav House in Ward No.15, Belagavi – 1252000

A group of 25 students from Belagavi, studying various programs in Bangladesh, has returned home safely amid nationwide riots that disrupted communication infrastructure in the country. The students’ return was facilitated by the Indian Embassy.

As tensions escalated, concerned parents sought assistance from Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar and the district administration. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan provided the Centre with details of the stranded students, leading to their safe return.

A medical student among the returnees described the tense situation: “About a week ago, we were told to stay in our college hostel as rioters had destroyed mobile towers. The situation worsened, and we realized it was time to return home. We arrived in Belagavi on August 4. If we stayed longer, returning would have been much harder.”

Another student added, “It was a relief to get out of there. The situation was dire and unsafe, with everyone mentally exhausted.”

Source: DH, Loksatta

Tuesday night, a fire broke out at the Sneham factory in the Navage village limits of Belagavi taluk around 8:45 PM, resulting in a tragic loss. One worker died, and three others sustained severe burns. The injured workers, identified as Maruti Karvekar (32), Yallappa Salgude (35), and Ranjit Patil (39), have been admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

Rescue efforts were undertaken by SDRF and fire brigade personnel amid suspicions that a laborer was trapped in the lift.

They worked tirelessly for 17 hours, eventually discovering the body of Yallappa (18) in the elevator. His body will be sent for an FSL report to complete the formalities.

In a significant move to improve connectivity and ease the pilgrimage journey for lakhs of devotees, Jagadish Shettar, MP Belagavi, has called for a survey to explore the construction of a new railway line to Savadatti. The proposal was presented to Union Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnav in New Delhi, with Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr. Somanna Manya, accompanying and supporting the petition.

The renowned Savadatti Sri Renuka Yallamma Devi Temple attracts devotees from across the country, but the current road-only access often results in significant traffic congestion and long delays. Addressing this issue, MP Shettar emphasized the urgent need for rail connectivity to Savadatti to facilitate a smoother pilgrimage experience.

“Providing a railway connection to Savadatti is essential to accommodate the large influx of devotees and alleviate the traffic issues on the temple road,” MP Shettar stated. He requested the Union Minister of Railways to instruct the Hubli SWR General Manager to survey the proposed railway line.

Responding positively, Union Minister Vaishnav assured consideration of the matter, signaling potential progress towards the new railway line.

In addition to this proposal, MP Shettar also raised the issue of cases registered against hundreds of farmers who halted trains at Hubli railway station in 2016, protesting for the Mahadayi project implementation. He urged the Railway Minister to annul these cases, to which the Minister promised a thorough review.

The proposed railway line and the potential annulment of cases against farmers mark significant steps towards addressing local issues and improving infrastructure and justice in the region.

by Dr. Madhav Prabhu

‘
Shrawan Mase Harsha Manase’, the holy month of Shravan is upon us in Belagavi. This month is so fascinating that poets cannot resist writing on its beauty, sages are so excited that they want to go out and see something new and they want to do it for the next four months calling it chaturmas. The greenery is fascinating, there are so many shades of green that even the best artist will fall short of imagination to describe. Ok for those unromantic people like me, there is a lesson here, green is not merely green and nature gives you a shade card of all of them, there is army garden, asparagus green, pine green, mint green, forest green, turquoise green, emerald green and sea green too, uff I haven’t seen a green sea, yet we have a shade of that green too, I am sure All About Belgaum will put a shade card for you too, so you recognize the many shades of green.

But coming back Shravan offers all this on a platter, If you don’t believe me then take this shade card and go to Tillari or even someplace close like Nanawadi. The rivers are full of Markandeya, Mallaprabha is overflowing, and the falls are at their full glory, chatting loudly with the rocks, gossiping about the tourists as they bathe, collecting the occasional beer bottles hurled on to them. The skies are bluish-black and the sun plays hide and seek romancing with the clouds.

Nature will make you fall in love without a doubt, you have to melt, looking at the splendor of Mother Earth if this does not make you fall in love then perhaps you do come from Venus or Mars.

But what attracts me most is the caricature of the people we meet in Shravan, no these are not the merely romantic ones, there is a full assortment to offer.

Let’s begin with the Vallya cha Valmiki types, the transforming types. Yupp Shravan starts with gatari amawasya, to those who don’t know about it, in Belagavi we have two festivals that are rare to outsiders one is gatari and the other is undri, still wondering well gatari is where we give respectability to the gutters, you are still wondering right but it’s true the gutters are the most useful infrastructure to us imagine life without them, cities will be chocked, so what’s done here in gatari is that you get so drunk that you have to fall in the gutter and since you are so drunk you don’t mind it at all. Undri is when you offer mutton to the stead of Lord Ganesha Mushak raj, let’s not get to Undri in Shravan we will have time to discuss it later.

But then gatari is a commitment, it’s a silent pledge that the person makes to the night that he or nowadays even she, will not consume alcohol or partake meat for a month. It’s Osho evoked in everyone on that one night where you indulge so much that you do not feel like looking at it for a month. Gatari has undergone a sea change over time, is not celebrated in the desi dukans next to the gutters now, we have gatari parties, gatari get together and gatari dances too. So if you were used to full moon days with milk and all that on Kojagiri, this would come as a no moon day shock right. Well, I am not against this infact I would say we declare this as a festival so the municipal corporation would have to clean the gutters at least once a year and yes before Shrawan.

But my focus is the Transformer, and for those who don’t associate with Valmiki they are like Rahul’s who suddenly transform from Bangkok fame to Shiv Bhakts, people who eat meat by tons and suddenly transform to temple goers. The transformers are many, some don’t like to see meat, some don’t even like to smell, some even avoid seeing advertisements containing meat products.
I have seen people not taking part in birthday celebrations because cakes have eggs, people who stop taking cough syrup because it contains alcohol base, and those who avoid going to bus stand because they can’t avoid seeing Niyaz. Vegetables are in demand and fruits suddenly look nutritious. The need for animal proteins without which there is no life tumbles like the share market. Niyaz, Khyber seem like deserted haunted places. Foods like mutton, chicken are converted to living animals like sheep, goat, and hens. Maneka Gandhi goes suddenly out of business and discussion on which pandhra tambda is best is converted to how vegetarian lifestyle is celebrated and amazing. The transformers are actually the best hibernating animals, they are conscious but their love for nonveg suddenly goes on for hibernation.

Then there are the beardos, people who grow their facial hair in Shrawan. You know what this is not new to Westerners, there is a no-shave November, where you grow bread to attract attention to the cancer victims who lose them before chemotherapy. But here the reasons are not to create awareness of vegetarianism. I asked the reasons for it and they say it’s to be so pious that you forget your own beauty and think only of the beauty of the Devine. People don’t cut nails too and that’s a little extreme I think. The beardos are the true representation of us, the clean-shaven, soft-spoken, white-colored gentlemen are merely British virtues, we were forced to emulate to get lucrative jobs, we Indians never bothered about looks is what some justify and on independence day growing a beard is like liberation from foreign etiquette. Beards are perfectly justified in Shravan, students, office staff, and teachers all of can get away with it in settings that otherwise would not allow them to sport bread, would you otherwise think of going to a doctor with a beard in KLE hospital, well Shravan you will.

Then we have the losers and that includes meat shop owners, hairdressers, bar owners and hoteliers, there are simply no takers. The business is run by a few honest alcoholics who never give up on their one true love. These guys are like the saving grace for many businesses. Imagine without these angels, thousands of people in bars, hotels, pubs would lose their jobs, and alcoholics actually save families while ruining their own, have you seen such selflessness. There are also big-time gainers and the best of them are the priests the poojaris, their season starts with shravan, then there is Ganapathi and Belagavi has private and public ones in plenty, then pitrupaksha, then Dasra and Diwali, the market continues to grow till December when the slack season of marriages and occasional poojas begins.

Lastly, there are the foodies, the extremely vegetarians, the ones with a sweet tooth, and Shravan is a delight to these harmless food lovers too.

We start with Tambit, Ladoo and patoli on Nag Panchami, there is Naralibhat on Rakhi day, and every Monday and Friday there is Shirwale, Kadbu, Mangana, Sakharbhat, Kheer, Puranpoli, Hulgi, Huggi and the list goes on and on.

And if you are in Belagavi you get dishes from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa provided you have the right friends. A true foodie will wait all year to taste these delicious mouth-watering delicacies. Some of these foodies are actually one who has pledged to fast in shravan, to diet, to lose weight but this world is not fair to them, they are kept tempted by the sweets and the aromas of Khuskhus, Keshar and Kewada mixed with Jaggery and coconut. The diet soon gives way to force feed and the weight involuntarily moves towards the right. The sweet food is what defines shravan for many. The problem is only when eid comes in shravan and you have to limit to sherkorma and give away the biryani. Infact my Muslim friends always thank me for being veg because then they get chicken at prices, they would never expect otherwise, so while they thank me while hogging biryani I get the sweet shirkurma as a consolation. The world revolves around foodies and inflation is invariably food driven.

These are some special people I associate with Shravan, I am sure you must know a few too, don’t forget to acknowledge their presence, cheer, let the festivities begin.

The body of Yallappa Sannagowda Gundyagola, a laborer who perished in a fire accident at the Sneham Taping Solutions at Navage village, was tragically reduced to ashes in Belagavi taluk after a fire broke out on Tuesday night.

In a solemn ceremony overseen by a senior police officer, the rescue team handed over Yallappa’s remains in a traditional clay pot to his family. To protect the pot from potential rain, the father of the deceased placed it inside a plastic bag.

Family members arrived at the site at 6 am. Colleagues of the deceased recounted that Yallappa was near the lift when the fire broke out. The rescue team discovered his ashes around 10 am on Wednesday.

Following the discovery, an inspection was conducted with officials from various departments, including the Health Department. The remains were officially handed over in the presence of senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), at 12:30 pm.

On date, i.e. 09th August 2024, at 09:35 AM, Goods train with 17 loaded Wagons derailed between Sonalim and Dudhsagar Stations in Braganza ghat section of Hubballi Division. Due to this the following trains are Diverted/Cancelled.

*Diverted Trains:*

1. Train No. 17420/17022 Vasco Da Gama – Tirupati/Hyderabad Weekly Express, Journey commenced on 09.08.2024 is diverted to run via Madgaon, Karwar, Padil, Subhramanya Raod, Hassan, Arsikere, Chikjajur, Rayadurga and Ballari, further this train will continue its regular path.

2. Train No. 12779 Vasco Da Gama – Hazrat Nizamuddin Express, Journey commencing on 09.08.2024 is diverted to run via Madgaon, Roha, Panvel, Kalyan and Pune, further this train will continue its regular path.

3. Train No. 12780 Hazrat Nizamuddin – Vasco Da Gama Express, Journey commenced on 08.08.2024 is diverted to run via Pune, Kalyan, Panvel, Roha and Madgaon, further this train will continue its regular path.

*Cancelled Trains:*

1. Train No. 17309 Yesvantpur – Vasco Da Gama, Journey Commencing on 09.08.2024 is cancelled.

2. Train No. 17310 Vasco Da Gama – Yesvantpur, Journey Commencing on 09.08.2024 is cancelled.

Accident Relief Train from Vasco Da Gama and Hubballi with 140 Ton Cranes and other required materials have been departed to the derailed site with restoration team for the purpose and restoration works.

Senior Officers led by Shri Arvind Srivastava, General Manager, Shri K S Jain Additional General Manager and Principal Heads of Departments are monitoring the situation closely. Shri Harsh Khare, Divisional Railway Manager, Hubballi and other Senior Officers rushed to the derailed site for supervising of restoration works.

Further any change in train services will be notified later.

Property tax collection in Belagavi has been severely affected after the software used by the Belagavi City Corporation for Property tax was shut down on Thursday evening (8th). The software company has informed the CCB that the system was taken offline for maintenance. Still, sources reveal that the corporation’s overdue payments to the company may have contributed to the shutdown. Even now for many Apartments the challan is not generated online and looks like the CCB has never asked the company to solve this issue.

The closure of the software has not only stalled Property Tax Collection efforts but also brought the issuance of property tax challans and online tax payments to a standstill. With the upcoming two-day holiday, residents will be unable to pay their property taxes online, exacerbating the issue.

The City Corporation relies on this software, provided by a third-party company, for managing property taxes. Although the contract with the software provider expired, the CCB had prepared a proposal to extend it, which was discussed in a general meeting on June 20. However, the minutes of that meeting have yet to be approved, delaying the contract renewal and the payment of the company’s outstanding bill.

The delay has left the CCB’s IT and revenue departments in a difficult position, especially with Commissioner Ashok Dudgunti on leave. The unresolved software issues are likely to impact the CCB’s ability to meet its monthly property tax collection targets, posing a challenge for the revenue officials.

Belagavi has a significant number of online taxpayers, but with the software down, payments have been halted since Thursday evening. If the issue is not resolved promptly, the city’s mortgage recovery efforts could face further setbacks.

Source: Sakal

The historic Belagavi Fort, a treasured landmark dating back nearly 1,000 years, is at the center of a heated debate as residents rally against the Belagavi Cantonment Board’s decision to establish a bus and truck terminus adjacent to the fort’s moat. The plan has sparked concerns over the potential environmental and heritage damage it could inflict on the area.

Guided by the principles outlined in Article 51A (f) and (g) of the Indian Constitution, which urge citizens to protect the nation’s heritage and environment, the residents of Fort Dr.Nitin Khot & Dr.Siddarth Pujari have submitted a protest letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cantonment Board. Despite their efforts to convince the CEO to reconsider the decision, the Cantonment Board has reportedly begun work on the project, much to the dismay of the community.

The Belagavi Fort, surrounded by a deep moat and rich in ancient temples, basadis, and mosques, is not only a symbol of the city’s heritage but also a protected site under the Karnataka Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, of 1966. The area around the fort, known as the ‘skirts’ or ‘apron,’ has been kept clear for centuries to preserve the integrity and security of the fort. However, in recent years, parts of this land have been leased for commercial purposes, leading to various environmental challenges.

In the past, a wholesale vegetable market and a truck terminus were established in this area, causing severe traffic congestion and environmental degradation. Efforts to mitigate these issues included relocating the vegetable market and heavy vehicle terminus to more suitable locations, where waste management and pollution control norms were strictly adhered to.

The Belagavi Smart City Plan of 2017, which identified the fort as a key heritage area, had allocated ₹30.98 crores to clean the moat, repair the fort walls, and develop a park around the fort. Unfortunately, this plan was opposed by the Station Commander, who argued that increased tourism could compromise the security of the Indian Army stationed in the area. As a result, the allocated funds were returned to the Central Government, and the project was shelved.

Despite these setbacks, the Cantonment Board’s decision to reintroduce commercial vehicles to the area has reignited concerns among residents. They fear that the presence of trucks and buses will lead to traffic chaos, further damage the fort’s ecosystem, and hinder any future efforts to revive the Smart City Plan.

Residents argue that the return of heavy vehicles to this area contradicts the Station Commander’s previous stance on security concerns related to tourism. They are now prepared to pursue legal action to protect their heritage and the environment, expressing deep concern for the future of the fort and the city’s livability.

“We implore the authorities to intervene and stop this irreparable damage,” said Dr.Nitin Khot. “CEOs may come and go, but we have to live in Belagavi and make it livable for our children.”

The protest letter, along with documentation of past efforts to preserve the fort, has been submitted to the Cantonment Board.

Antaheen, a rising rock band from Pune, proudly announces the release of their debut album, Long Story Short. This seven-track album blends elements of pop, rock, and grunge with introspective lyrics that delve into themes of existentialism, personal growth, and life’s complexities. Antaheen is a Pune-based rock band founded by Amar Kulkarni (Vocalist, Guitarist, and primary songwriter from Belagavi), Ashish Kukreja (Drums), and Niraj Pandit (Bass Guitar). Their music, written in Hindi and English, offers a fresh perspective on life’s journey through eclectic, anthemic sounds.

Amar’s tryst with music began in the mid-90s while in college at GSS and went on to form college bands “The Edge” and ” Antibiotic” that performed in all the college fests around Belagavi.

Long Story Short bridges the gap between alternative rock enthusiasts and mainstream listeners with songs primarily in Hindi and one in English. Each track offers catchy hooks and thoughtful messages, creating a dynamic listening experience that resonates long after the music ends.

The album features standout contributions from popular guitarist and producer Vinay Kaushal, who enhances the band’s raw sound with polished production and layered sonic textures. Notable collaborations also include backing vocals by artist Shivangi Kale and a compelling performance by “Ensemble Sahnaad”, Pune’s finest vocal ensemble on the track “Muskuraah.”

“With Long Story Short, we wanted to create music that not only entertains but also makes people reflect and connect on a deeper level. There’s much to say, yet, it has to be said in the most concise way, long story short, this is what it is” says Amar Kulkarni, vocalist, guitarist and founder of the band.

Album Highlights:

• A fresh take on Indian pop-rock with introspective, anthemic melodies.

• Themes of existentialism, personal transformation, and life’s journey.

• A mix of Hindi and English songs with broad appeal.

• A new voice in the Indian indie music scene.

Starting Aug 9th, 2024, Long Story Short is available for streaming on all listening platforms worldwide. Antaheen invites media, music enthusiasts, and indie promoters to explore the album.

You can listen to Long Story Short exclusively on the platform of your choice – 
https://linktr.ee/