Karnataka - Bidar   

It was indeed an eventful year for Bidar district

Staff Correspondent

The most significant development was the nod for using the Air Force Base for civilian operations

Bidar: The year that ended on Sunday was eventful for the people of Bidar for, it was marked by some interesting developments and unforgettable incidents.

The most significant development that will affect the district's economy is the Union Government's nod for using the Bidar Air Force Base for civilian operations. This is expected to boost industrial development and facilitate better administration by allowing frequent visits by Ministers and senior officials. It will also help in tapping Bidar's tourist potential. The Bidar base will be the only air link to Marathwada (southeast Maharashtra) and Hyderabad-Karnataka region, considered the most backward regions of the respective States. It will also be the nearest airport to districts of the backward Telangana region in Andhra, other than the airport in Hyderabad.

Bidar Utsav organised after a gap of 12 years was a big draw. It is also expected to promote tourism in the district. Politically, the year marked a definite shift in people's preferences for their representatives. Resurgence of the Backward Classes led to a change of power at many levels. Bandeppa Kashempur, a leader from the Backward Classes, was elected MLA. He went on to be the first person from the community in the district to become the Minister. He is also the second person from the Backward Classes to become MLA after Manikrao Phulekar in 1972.

The Bidar Zilla Panchayat became the first local body in the State formed on the basis of the Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP coalition principle. The coalition voted out by the Congress in a no-confidence motion was able to gain confidence of the House again.

Work of the Basava Kalyan Development Board started to develop the city into an international tourism centre began this year. The board that was conceptualised 15 years ago finally took off.

The year also had its share of sad events. The first-ever crash of Mark II airplanes used by the Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran acrobatic team killed two senior officials on March 18. The year ended on a sour note owing to allegations of police atrocities on activists protesting against "defiling" of the Ambedkar statue in Mannaekhalli and Bidar.

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