Under mounting pressure from local farmers and landowners, the urban development department has opted to trim down the green belt radius encircling the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) in Belagavi.
The Belagavi Urban Development Authority (BUDA) initially declared a 1-kilometre radius around the SVS during its construction approximately 15 years ago. A recent proposal, however, outlines a reduction of this radius to 500 meters.
Since the project’s inception, farmers and landowners have consistently opposed the extensive 1-kilometre green belt radius, lobbying the government for a reduction.
Construction activities are prohibited in the green belt zone to safeguard the integrity of the structure, as per established norms.
The decision to diminish the green belt area was reached during a BUDA meeting on September 5. BUDA sources reveal that the resolution has been forwarded to the government for a final decision.
It is noteworthy that the 1-kilometre green belt was initially proposed by BUDA in 2008, coinciding with the commencement of SVS construction. However, an official government notification on this decision is still pending.
Interestingly, numerous landowners undertook construction within the 1-kilometre green belt zone, yet BUDA lacked the authority to take action in the absence of an official notification defining the precise green belt radius.
Three years ago, the then DC SG Hiremath instructed BUDA officials to formulate a proposal for a 500-metre green belt zone. Although BUDA prepared the proposal earlier, it only received approval during the September 5 meeting.
BUDA Commissioner Shakeel Ahmed informed reporters that the 500-metre green belt proposal has been submitted to the government. Once the notification is issued, subsequent actions will be taken, and it will also be incorporated into the city’s new master plan, he clarified.
