BELAGAVI: Several important decisions were taken at the Belagavi city corporation (BCC) council meeting held at the BCC assembly hall on Saturday. The meeting deliberated on key civic issues, particularly the city’s drinking water crisis and obstacles in e-khata registrations, and approved a three percent increase in property tax.
Most members opposed the proposal to increase property tax by four percent for properties within the corporation’s jurisdiction, and unanimously passed a resolution to increase property tax by three percent.
The members of the ruling party raised the issue of liquor sold at the Tilakwadi recreation club and urged officials to recover the outstanding lease amount of Rs 2.63 crore from the property.
Reshma Talikoti, commissioner of revenue, BCC, said that the Tilakwadi recreation club property, which belongs to BCC, was permanently given on lease since 1931. A rent revision agreement is signed every 30 years, and the lease requires the club to conduct indoor and outdoor sports, and have a library at the location. However, the club is in violation of these rules, and the club was being misused. Liquor was being sold there under a liquor license, and the club has not paid rent so far. The records show an outstanding payment of Rs 2.63 crore.
MLA Abhay, party and corporation member and advocate Hanumant Kongali demanded legal action against the club, which has arrears of rent worth crores.
MLA Asif Raju Sait asked land for the Women’s Degree College in Belagavi and Kanaka Bhavan.
The meeting discussed measures to solve the drinking water problem, including improving basic infrastructure, improving tax collection, and increasing revenue from hoardings and boards. Mayor Mangesh Pawar, deputy mayor Vani Joshi, corporation commissioner B Shubha also participated.
