Belagavi Industrialists Stage Protest Over Delayed Property Documents
In a significant demonstration of frustration, small-scale industrialists, supported by activists from the Karunada Vijaya Sene district unit, organized a protest at the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) office on Monday. The protest was aimed at opposing the excessive delays and negligence in issuing e-property and B-Khata documents for properties within the Belagavi Auto Nagar Industrial Area. The industrialists demanded immediate action to resolve this critical issue, which has been plaguing their operations for an extended period.
Allegations of Negligence and Financial Hardship
The protesters raised loud slogans against the BCC commissioner, accusing the office of halting the issuance of e-property and B-Khata documents on what they described as technical grounds. They alleged that this move has severely disrupted industrial operations, leading to substantial financial losses for many businesses. Following the protest, a formal memorandum was submitted to the BCC commissioner, outlining their grievances and urgent demands.
Suresh Itagi, the district president of Karunada Vijaya Sene, provided detailed insights into the situation. He explained that the process for issuing e-property and B-Khata documents for KIDB-related properties in the Belagavi Auto Nagar Industrial Area has been completely stalled for the past one and a half years. Despite numerous written and oral representations made by small-scale industrialists, workers, and property owners, the BCC officials have failed to provide any clear or written responses.
Impact on Business Operations and Legal Concerns
Due to this prolonged delay, industrialists are facing severe challenges, including an inability to avail bank loan facilities. The sale, purchase, and transfer of properties have been completely disrupted, exacerbating financial difficulties for small and medium industries. The protesters highlighted that this situation is causing significant strain on their livelihoods and business sustainability.
Moreover, the industrialists raised serious concerns about alleged discrimination in the issuance process. They claimed that e-property certificates are being issued only to elite individuals in the city for certain KIDB-related properties, while unnecessary rules and obstacles are imposed on ordinary industrialists. This, they argued, constitutes a clear violation of Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 19(1)(g) (Right to Trade and Employment) of the Indian Constitution.
Ultimatum and Official Response
In a firm stance, the protesters issued an ultimatum, warning that if no action is taken within eight days, they will file a formal complaint under the Sakala Act to the government through CPGRAMS, the central public grievance redressal system. This step underscores their determination to seek legal recourse if their demands are not met promptly.
The BCC commissioner, who accepted the memorandum during the protest, responded by assuring that action would be taken within 15 days, pending approval from the council meeting. This assurance, however, leaves the industrialists in a state of cautious optimism as they await concrete steps to address the long-standing issue.
The protest in Belagavi highlights broader issues of bureaucratic delays and transparency in property documentation processes, affecting the economic vitality of small-scale industries in the region.
