Former BCC Leaders Threaten Mass Agitation Over Alleged Unconstitutional Administration
Former mayors, deputy mayors, and ex-corporators of the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) issued a stern warning on Tuesday, threatening to launch a mass agitation against what they describe as an "unconstitutional, anti-development, and anti-people" civic administration. The group, led by former MLA Ramesh Kudachi, held a press conference to voice their strong objections to the recently passed surplus budget, which they claim is misleading and based on faulty calculations.
Budget Criticized as Misleading and Deficit-Ridden
Kudachi alleged that the surplus budget presentation is a facade, with major liabilities deliberately excluded to create a false financial picture. "How can this be called a surplus when Rs 3 crore deposited in the high court as compensation has not been accounted for? Over Rs 80 lakh in pending employee payments is also missing. This is clearly a deficit budget," he stated. He criticized the budget preparation process, noting that in the past, detailed discussions spanned three to four days in the council, whereas the current process is largely handled by officials without adequate input from elected representatives.
Allegations of Irregularities in Taxation and Fund Utilization
The association raised serious concerns about irregularities in taxation and the utilization of funds. Kudachi pointed out that property tax revisions, which were previously conducted once every five years, are now being done annually, a move he claims oversteps authority and violates norms. He also accused officials of misusing State Finance Commission (SFC) grants and failing to levy taxes on essential services such as:
- Road restoration works
- Mobile towers
- LED streetlight installations
Additionally, he questioned the effectiveness of the city's command and control centre, suggesting it is not delivering as promised.
Claims of Political Will Deficiency and Property Encroachments
Rejecting claims of a fund crunch, Kudachi asserted that the corporation lacks political will rather than resources. He alleged that more than 500 BCC-owned sites have been encroached upon or fraudulently sold using fake documents. "If the council is serious, we are ready to provide details to recover these properties," he offered. He also questioned the status of funds contributed by the BCC nearly 25 years ago for a permanent water supply project, asking why the corporation is seeking fresh funds when earlier contributions remain unaccounted for.
Support from Other Former Leaders
Former mayor Nagesh Sateri alleged that council secretaries have no authority to revise property tax, as has been done recently. Another former mayor, Shivajirao Sunthakar, urged current corporators to prioritize public welfare over personal interests. The press conference was attended by several other prominent former leaders, including:
- Deepak Waghela
- Malojirao Asthekar
- Renu Killekar
- Netaji Jadhav
- Vandana Belagundkar
The group emphasized their willingness to share their experience and expertise if the present council is open to collaboration, but warned that failure to address these issues could lead to widespread public agitation.
