The long-pending plan to transfer residential colonies within the Belagavi Cantonment to the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has received fresh attention, with Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh holding a virtual review meeting with senior officials on Wednesday.
Urban Development Department Secretary Deepa Cholan, Belagavi City Commissioner Kartik M, and other concerned officials took part in the meeting. Sources said the chief secretary instructed authorities to speed up consultations and submit a clear outcome within the next two weeks, indicating renewed efforts at the state level to resolve the matter.
The transfer process had remained stalled for several months due to differing opinions over the exact extent of cantonment residential areas to be handed over to the BCC. A few months ago, the BCC submitted detailed inputs to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, after which the DC’s office prepared a proposal and forwarded it to the state government.
Further discussions with the city commissioner and the DC are expected before a final decision is taken within a fortnight. Shalini Rajneesh, who earlier served in Belagavi as DC and BCC administrator, is familiar with cantonment-related issues and the challenges faced by residents, and is said to have taken the initiative to move the process forward.
