Yesterday the weavers of Belgaum locked up the HESCOM officials and MLA in the HESCOM office and the results are visible today I guess.

 Power play or power cuts have now reduced. The daily 6-7 hour cut will be how much in day is yet to be seen, but it’s a sigh of relief to the citizens.

 In the city area there used to be load shedding from 10 am to 1 pm, but today it was from 10 to 11 am only, and hence I am able to update this blog as well on time.

 We need to see the whole day and then take a note of the entire amount the power cuts are scheduled. The HESCOM officials stated that there will not be any more un scheduled load shedding in town.

 Hope for the best. Pray to God for more rains and this power problem could be solved for the time being at least. 

Rainy season is one of the dullest seasons for tourism but there are some places one should only visit when it’s raining and one such beautiful place is Amboli.

 Amboli is not new to any Belgaumite, that fog on the road, that chilly weather, rains showers in between and of course greenery all round.

 Amboli is 70 kms from Belgaum and is a best day out picnic spot around and is very popular amongst the young. People reading this must have gone there once at least, if not don’t miss it; this is the best time of the year.  

 Amboli falls in the Sindhudurg District and the latter has received good rainfall in the past week or so which means all water falls in Amboli will now be at their paramount.

Amboli is a perfect destination for relaxing and getting lost among the misty mountains.

Hiranyakeshi Kund

The other attractions of Amboli are Hiranya Keshi, Nagatta Falls, Mahadev and Narayan Gad, Shirgaonkar, Sea view Point and the Bauxite Mines. 

 Hiranya Keshi is a famous fishing ground where hours could be spent in solitude and quietness. Nagatta Falls offer a perfect picnic place. With a breathtaking view of Nagatta Falls, this is a perfect place to escape with your family. 

Sea View Point offers the most wonderful view one has ever seen. The long stretch of the mountains and lands extending to the Konkan coast is an experience to be cherished lifelong. 

And of course if you want to experience something different, Bauxite Mines are a must visit for you. Just about 10 km away, this place has a pleasant scenic beauty. 

 A couple of years ago there were not many hotels other than the JRD international but now there are many hotels come up and resorts as well where you can make a comfortable stay overnight and see the nature in the wee hours of the morning. Pure Veg hotel like the one a top the hill of Vithal Kamat is also a good one for food. There are many others near the bus stand and earlier as well. Many resorts are after the check post and also there are small houses with boards which are state approved rest places “bed n breakfast’ you can check them as well.

 July to September is the ideal time to go there as it will be raining and thick fog will make walking a pleasure.

 A note of  caution for the travelers, it is normally seen that the young college going crowds are there in huge numbers and many of them drunk which can cause you trouble so be prepared to handle tight situations. Police is normally deployed near the Falls where the crowd is the maximum. There are other various points as well where you can enjoy the nature.

 All the photos are archives taken from the internet.

 So when are you AMBOLI-ing!

 Ravikiran has made an online petition for the Injustice to BELGAUM-KITTUR-DHARWAD Rail Link.

 Kindly support it.

 Petition’s Target: Ministry of Railways- Government of India

Petition’s Goal: I invite all the people to support this petition, and put forward our demands.

 Petition’s URL: http://www.petitionvoice.in/injustice-to-belgaum-kittur-dharwad-rail-link-petition.html

An unheard protest recently took place at Basavan Bagewadi station where Belgaum Miraj Passenger train was held up for half an hour. The youth here were asking for up gradation of platform and facilities at Bagewadi station and very importantly they also submitted a demand list including Belgaum Dharwad direct railway line immediately. Our District in charge Minister from Hubli Mr Bommi (Good for Nothing) visited Belgaum recently just to pass by to see whats happening on Kalsa Banduri project, because this is going to supply water to Hubli Dharwad , what is good for then being Palak Mantri.

I would wish to throw some light on whole issue:

Are Belgaumites so dumb and careless that we can just go away with “Kisko kya padai hai” and “aree chalta hai chalne do”. Should we not have bigger aspiration for city’s development?

Even Bagalkot and Bijapur cites with least than 2 Lakhs of population have trains connecting Bangalore, and for We Belgaumites a BIG NOTHING!!!! , are we all not responsible for this NOTHING!!!

The railway budget has nothing for Belgaum this time as our urges and requirements were never carried forward in parliament thorough our elected representative.

Think!!! Some benefits of Belgaum Dharwad rail line become reality

Reduction of travel time and access to Historical sites of Kittur, bringing this place on Deccan Odyssey network.

Few trains can Originate from Belgaum towards Bangalore

Belgaum Bangalore Intercity express

Belgaum Kittur Dharwad Hubli (intercity express and passenger trains)

Belgaum Hubli Bangalore Chennai Express

Belgaum Mysore Express

Belgaum Kochiveli Express

Belgaum Gadag Express

Belgaum Solhapur

Belgaum Vijaywada

Slip Coaches for Vasco Howrah Express to Londa

Slip coaches for Hydrabad to Hubli

Slip coaches for Madgaon to connect Mandovi express to Mumbai

Slip coaches for Madgaon to connect Konkan Kanya express to Mumbai

This line should be doubled and become trunk route in Karnataka till Bangalore.

Well there are infrastructures facilities required which need immediate consideration for all the above things to happen

Marshalling yard at Sambra station for gods train

Pit lines for siding of trains at Belgaum

Fourth platform on the southern end of Belgaum giving better access to people coming from south suburb of city

Second foot over bridge.

Well this dream and wish though staying abroad and looking one day Belgaum could have it all soon, and sure will happen someday but We Belgaumites need to thrive for it, I request some prominent citizen of Belgaum to become Member for Rail user committee and attend meeting at SWR HQ Hubli and have our say. Meet our public representative to put forward proposals and requests which I had posted along with Uday on Belgaum Railway development.

Belgaum Railway station plan was prepared by Satish in 2007, see it here

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From the initial look at the speech of Railways minister Mamta Banerjee, Belgaum has not even a mention of any sorts.

After the honeymoon period of the UPA government is over here is the first slap on the face of the citizens. 

Fuel prices have been increased, petrol by Rs.4 and diesel by Rs.2.

So the new prices are as below:

Petrol – Rs.50.48.

Diesel- Rs. 37.14

The rise in fuel prices will shoot up inflation which is now in negative territory to positive and worst hit will be the common man as with the rise in fuel prices of all commodities tend to increase.

Just before the elections were to be declared on January 28, 2009 fuel prices were reduced, it was a carrot and now is the stick. We all ate the carrot now it’s the turn for stick.

People will again for a couple of days shout at the govt. plan to use less fuel, and after a week all will be as it was.

The rise in price of Diesel will hit industries and business houses now running on diesel generators due to the 8-10 hour power black outs.

The govt. in its budget will also show some more stick as the fiscal deficit is going out of control. The politicians will increase their salary, DA, TA etc which increases the fiscal gap, why can’t the govt. also ask politicians to have a reduced salary & perks, as it was asked by the Air India for its employees recently.

God Bless India!

Finding no solution in the courts or elsewhere to the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karntaka, the pro-Maratha lobby in Belgaum feels it has been left with no other option but to seek divine help. A team led by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra traditionally performs the pooja at the Pandarpur jathra for the welfare of the state and its people.

 People of Maharashtra have great faith in the Pandarpur jathra and believe that Vithal Rukmai blesses them with everything they ask for. This most popular jathra is attended by lakhs of devotees every year.

“The long legal battle between the governments has not been able to resolve the boundary row. This time Vithal Rukmai will listen to our prayers,” say several pro-Maharashtra leaders here, who have conveyed their sentiments to Mr Chavan.

“There is no other option left for the government but to pray,” these Marathi leaders say.

But it now seems the dispute could place even the Gods in a dilemma. According to sources, not just Maharashtrians but also lakhs of Kannadigas will take part in the jathra for the welfare of Karnataka and their own well being.

Instead of praying to solve the border issue these politicians need to pray to God for good rains and peace & we the public should pray to God for some good sense to the politicians. 

MLA Abhay Patil had drawn up a plan to widen the Old Dharwad road to 100 feet from Fort to highway cross. The work will start after the rains.

 The local residents and businessmen staged agitations and now the plan will be to make it a 60 feet road and all the people who will lose their property due to the widening will be reimbursed.

 The planned and hyped over bridge on Fort road towards Roopali theatre on Dharwad road is now being scrapped as the said road is being widened. The local residents however still demand a over bridge as they even if the road is widened the hardships of the railway gate will only be overcome by making a over bridge.