Latest news with #HDMC
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Tolankere lake reels under stench from sewage-mixed water
Hubballi: The foul odour from Tolankere lake in Hubballi has been increasing day by day giving an unpleasant experience to visitors and commuters alike. Visitors and morning walkers have been complaining about the stench emanating from the sewage-mixed water. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now When the plan was made to develop the lake, it was filled with sewage. The lake and the park were developed under the Smart City project at a cost of about Rs 35 crore. Now, the development work is complete. The lake is now being managed by an agency with the income generated from the entry fee, and other activities at the park. Prakash Matti, a visitor, said, "The lake was developed under the Smart City project, but the authorities concerned failed to maintain it. Visitors to the park have to endure the foul smell. The HDMC should clean the lake and ensure proper maintenance." A resident of Kumar Park, Veeresh Patil, said till now, the officials have not found a way to prevent the entry of sewage water into the lake. Meanwhile, HDMC executive engineer Vittal Tubake said the entry of sewage water into the lake was completely blocked three or four months ago, but it will take time for the water to clear. "Efforts are being made to provide a permanent solution for this. However, it will take time," he said. "Now, the STP has been releasing only treated water into the lake. However, the old water has low oxygen levels and stinks. Necessary steps need to be taken to increase the oxygen levels in the water," he added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Athletes in Hubballi struggle due to lack of synthetic track
Hubballi: Despite achieving in state and national level sports competitions, athletes in Hubballi are struggling with limited access to proper training facilities, and must cope with significant infrastructural challenges, particularly the absence of a synthetic track. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the city has Nehru Stadium and Railways ground for regular practice sessions, these venues lack modern synthetic tracks. This deficiency forces athletes to travel to Dharwad's RN Shetty ground for their training. Daily commute between the twin cities eats up on training time and athlete's energy. Lack of a synthetic track in Hubballi affects both amateur and professional athletes of all age groups. Young talent, particularly school and college students, find it difficult to maintain consistent training schedules due to these limitations. The absence of this essential facility also impacts their preparation for competitive events and championships. Local sports coaches have emphasised the need for a synthetic track in Hubballi. A proper track would not only enhance training quality but also help prevent injuries caused while practising on substandard surfaces. The current situation hampers the athletes' performance potential and their ability to compete effectively at higher levels. According to athletes in Hubballi, their training venues are limited to the Railways ground and Nehru Stadium, with neither facility offering a synthetic track. Although the HDMC initially proposed developing Nehru Stadium with a synthetic track under the smart city mission, they later altered their plans citing their intention to create multi-sport facilities instead. Kamala Siddi, an international athlete, said having a synthetic track in Hubballi would benefit the entire community. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It would enable more efficient training sessions, attract more youth to athletics, and potentially produce more champions from the region. The facility would also make Hubballi a potential venue for hosting district and state-level athletic meets, contributing to the city's sporting culture. Sayed Sabeer, a member of the Indian team who won silver in the U-18 Asian athletics championship, highlighted the challenges of training in Hubballi without a synthetic track, necessitating trips to Dharwad for practice. Athletes in Hubballi struggle with inadequate facilities, particularly the absence of a synthetic track. The installation of a synthetic track is essential, as all athletic competitions are conducted exclusively on synthetic surfaces.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Old Hubballi hospital all set to get taluk hospital status
Hubballi: The 100-bedded Old Hubballi maternity and general hospital, currently under the ownership of HDMC, is set to be transformed into a taluk hospital. This matter has been included in the agenda for the general body meeting scheduled on May 31. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sources indicate that local MLA Prasad Abbayya formally requested HDMC officials through correspondence, to discuss this transition. The hospital currently operates with 16 staff members including medical practitioners, nurses, and support staff. Given the current staff limitations, HDMC faces challenges in hospital operations. The construction work at the 100-bedded Old Hubballi hospital is ongoing. The proposal suggests transferring the facility to the health department, and its conversion into Hubballi taluk hospital. Upon health department acquisition, the facility is expected to be upgraded to match private hospital standards. Currently, HDMC continues to oversee operations at Chitaguppi hospital. Sources within HDMC reveal that the Old Hubballi maternity and general hospital, spanning 2,136 square metres was demolished to facilitate its upgrade to a 100-bed facility. The renovation aimed to provide advanced healthcare services to the locals. The initiative commenced in 2017-18 with a G+3 structural design and an 18-month completion timeline, with an estimated budget of Rs 14 crores. However, financial constraints hindered the progress. Although HDMC secured partial funding and utilised Rs 7.5 crores, construction activities slowed significantly. The contractor, investing personal funds, halted work pending reimbursement, resulting in minimal progress since then. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After completion of construction, HDMC will encounter operational challenges in managing the hospital, primarily due to limited enthusiasm from medical professionals and support personnel for contractual positions. The 100-bed facility requires sufficient medical practitioners, auxiliary staff, and technical experts to handle additional services, HDMC sources added. Considering the financial constraints faced by HDMC in completing and operationalising the hospital construction, local MLA Prasad Abbayya advised HDMC officials to transfer the structure to the health department. The department would then allocate funds to develop it as a taluk hospital. HDMC health officer Dr Sridhar Dandeppanavar said that based on the letter from MLA Prasad Abbayya, this matter was on the agenda of the general body meeting. HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali confirmed that the matter was incorporated into the general body's agenda for consideration. The general body will take the final decision on the matter. Pic: Finding a solution: Construction work at Old Hubballi hospital has slowed down due to funds crunch. MLA Prasad Abbayya has advised HDMC to transfer the structure to the health department, which would provide funding for its development as taluk hospita
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Kamaripeth police station relocates due to space, infra challenges
Hubballi: Finally, the Kamaripeth police station has found a new home at a community hall near Kamaripeth Jai Bharat Circle. The relocation was necessary due to safety concerns, as the old building stood precariously on a nala, risking damage from flooding during heavy rains. The formal inauguration of the relocated police station took place on Monday with a traditional puja ceremony. The new police station, while occupying 1,976 square feet, faces significant space constraints. The current setup includes three basic cabins allocated for the circle police inspector (CPI), police sub-inspectors (PSIs), and a computer room. However, the facility lacks essential infrastructure such as a proper record room and parking area. Cramped conditions pose challenges for the daily operations of the police force. Staff members must manage their duties within the limited space available, making it difficult to maintain files, handle visitors, and conduct routine police work efficiently. The absence of dedicated storage areas means important documents and records must be stored in makeshift arrangements. The lack of parking facilities creates additional problems, as both police vehicles and visitors' vehicles must find alternative parking solutions in the surrounding area. This situation could potentially affect emergency response times and create congestion in the neighbourhood. Despite these limitations, the relocation was unavoidable, given the deteriorating condition of the old building and the persistent flooding risks. The move to the community hall represents a temporary solution while authorities work on finding a more suitable permanent location that can better accommodate the police station's operational requirements. According to sources, in 1993, the Kamaripeth police station was established on PB Road to address illicit liquor trade and control bootlegging activities. The facility was built over a raja kaluve. The structure deteriorated over time due to increased water flow through the nala, prompting civic authorities to advise the police department to relocate the station. The relocation process faced delays due to a lack of suitable premises and infrastructure. Given the growing risks associated with the deteriorating building, authorities moved the police station to a community hall near Jai Bharat Circle, constructed at Rs 30 lakh. Currently, the station operates with 45 personnel, including women officers, against a sanctioned strength of 52 staff members, as per official sources. DCP (law & order) Mahaning Nandgavi explained that Kamaripeth police station was shifted to a temporary location. He confirmed that construction work for partitioning the roof space would commence shortly to ensure sufficient room. Vijaykumar R, superintending engineer of HDMC, confirmed that drinking water connectivity will soon be established at the community hall, which is currently lacks this facility. He also mentioned that MLA Prasad Abbaiyya recommended undertaking construction work to create sufficient space for the police station.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Property survey not done properly, says Minister Lad
Pointing out the huge difference in the number of houses having power supply collection and the number of properties in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad, Labour Minister Santosh Lad has directed the authorities to synchronise the data and stop revenue pilferage. Chairing review meetings of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) and the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) in Dharwad on Tuesday, Mr. Lad said that it was evident that all the properties had not been brought under the tax net in the twin cities and said that a survey on the properties had not been done in a comprehensive manner. Emphasising the need for proper tax collection, he said that over 45,000 illegal, unauthorised sites have been developed and sold. Providing basic amenities to such residential layouts had become a problematic issue, which should be sorted out at the earliest. There should also be an extensive awareness campaign on tax collection, he said. 'The municipal corporation has given a total of 2,474 assets on long-term lease several years ago. It has come to light that several of them have been leased out to others and a few even sold to third parties. It should be thoroughly investigated and suitable action taken,' he said. Taking strong exception to the sale of five-gunta farmland around the twin cities, he said that as it was unauthorised it should be immediately stopped. 'It is illegal to convert fertile farmland into residential five gunta plots and sell them. This is going to create problems in the coming days and should be addressed immediately through joint action of department of registration and survey and local bodies,' he said. Mentioning that demand for introducing OTS (One Time Settlement) for the pending water bills worth ₹149 crore was being considered, he asked the municipal authorities to send a requisite proposal. Pointing towards unauthorised paying guest facilities in the twin cities, the Minister directed the zonal assistant commissioners of the twelve zones of HDMC to conduct survey on PG facilities in the twin cities and collect information on the number of occupants, permissions taken, the facilities provided, taxes paid and to check whether they were paying commercial rates for water and drinking water usage. Those violating the norms should be issued notices immediately, he said. Intervening in the discussion, Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J. said that there was provision for cancellation of registration of sale deeds if the agricultural land was being used for non-agricultural activities and action could be taken. She also assured of constituting a joint committee to prevent unauthorised layouts in the district.
