BELGAUM: In an effort to draw the attention of the State and Union governments towards the long-pending demands of Belgaum district, an all-party meeting held here on Sunday decided to take a delegation to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

The meeting was presided over by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Suresh C. Angadi. Congress MLA from Belgaum city Ramesh L. Kudachi, former Mayor Siddangouda Patil, Belgaum District Kannada Organisations' Action Committee President Ashok Chandargi and representatives of Kannada and Marathi organisations participated in the deliberations.

Mr. Angadi held a similar meeting with senior officials of Railways from the Hubli Zone last year. It was decided to give the Ministry of Railways one month to respond to its demands, which included introduction of new trains and improvement of facilities at Belgaum Railway Station. Last month, Mr. Angadi led a delegation to meet former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh and submitted demands.

Unanimous resolution

At Sunday's meeting, members adopted unanimous resolutions demanding that the Government hold a legislature session in Belgaum. The previous government had promised to hold a session here once a year. However, the assurance was not fulfilled. Former Chief Secretary B.S. Patil, who had presided over a secretary-level meeting in the city, supported holding a session in Belgaum to address issues pertaining to regional imbalances.

The meeting expressed anguish over the Centre's delay in conceding the State Government's request on the Kalsa-Banduri Nala diversion scheme across the Mahadayi to facilitate drinking water supply to Hubli-Dharwad and to meet the irrigation requirements of Belgaum, Dharwad and adjoining areas of the two districts. The Centre, which has cleared the project, has stalled its implementation following objections from the Goa Government, which fears water supply will be affected if the Mahadayi, known as Mandovi in that State, is diverted.

The meeting called for a change in the timings at Belgaum of the Rani Chennamma Express, which runs from Kolhapur to Bangalore, and diversion of the Karnatak Sampark Kranti (Bangalore-Hazrat Nizamuddin) Express via Belgaum. The meeting asked that a Hubli-Mumbai express be introduced and that it be named after Renukadevi (the presiding deity of the district.

It also sought upgrading of the Belgaum Railway Station to "Grade-A".

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