Govt. to transfer villages from Saundatti to Bailhongal

The State Cabinet has decided to transfer around 35 villages to Bailhongal taluk from Saundatti taluk in Belagavi district to streamline administration and to reduce the hardship of people who were forced to travel long distances to meet the taluk headquarters.

The decision was taken on the basis of proximity of villages to the taluk headquarters.

This was decided at the Cabinet meeting held in Belagavi on Thursday. The Revenue Department has issued a gazette notification effecting the transfer.

MLA Mahantesh Koujalagi said that this was a great relief to thousands of people in villages within three to 10 km of Bailhongal, who had to travel to Saundatti, which is 40 to 50 km away.

L.G. Patil, a resident of Marakumbi village, said that they were forced to travel to Saundatti, that was over 40 km away, for administrative tasks and issue of certificates. Similar was the case with villages like Harugoppa, Inchal , Hosur, and Chachadi.

Five years ago, Saundatti taluk was divided and a new taluk was formed with Yaragati as its headquarters. At present, there were 32 gram panchayats and 88 villages in Saundatti taluk. Now, Bailahongal taluk has 117 villages and the number of villages in Saundatti taluk will come down to 53.

This re-division has been made under Section 4(4) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, considering the population, land area, land revenue, and public demands. Members of the public can file objections to the move with the office of the Deputy Commissioner, as per the notification.