About Khanapur
Khanapur Taluka in Brief
The idea behind this site is to portray Khanapur taluka in a “New” perspective and highlight the positives it has to offer. Khanapur is unique in a way, it lies in the south-western (SW) part of the large Belagavi district and it comes in the Malnad region and also borders the state of Goa. The taluka has verdant surroundings and is nestled in the Western Ghats and one can experience breathtaking scenery while travelling through the length and breadth of the region.
There are approx. around 220Villages, 51 Panchayats and 1 Town Municipal Council.
Some parts of Khanapur are developed but the same cannot be said of the entire region. Some areas are remote, inaccessible and are cut away from civilization. Nearly 50% of the villages are not connected by any form of motorable roads; bridges have to be built on most of the rivers in the taluka. Khanapur taluka has Pai Peeth (in Marathi language) jungle pathways and there is constant fear of being attacked by wild animals. It is blessed with abundant flora and fauna and large herbivores and carnivores are found in the region. Slow Loris/Slender Loris (Vanmanav in Marathi language) is found in the forests of Jamboti.
Bhimgad Sanctuary
There are 13 villages in Bhimgad Biosphere. The story in most of the villages in the sanctuary area is the same. There are no proper approach roads; no electricity; and the residents permanently live in the ‘Dark Ages’ and the area is cut off from the outside world during the harsh monsoons. There are no visible development indicators and life is a continuous struggle and they have none to look for solace and support. The inhabitants of the few villages in Bhimgad, which had to make way for the sanctuary, have not yet been rehabilitated properly till date. No proper rehabilitation has happened anywhere in entire Khanapur taluka and the displaced people have been made to resettle in some far away remote corner of the state.
Because of heavy rains, the farms adjacent to Bhimgad biosphere are not able to get a good yield from their lands, and the little harvest that they manage to get is destroyed by wild animals. The farmers have only a few months of work and have ample time and during most part of the year they have nothing productive to do. Hence they are aware of things happening from their village to the highest level.
No Real Progress and Development
If the government schemes are implemented properly than there can be all-round development in the taluka. There is large-scale unemployment in Khanapur taluka. Lots of government schemes are unknown because of illiteracy. All energies are lost in solving petty fights amongst the different political parties and the leaders from the respective parties. Marathi schools closed because of lack of strength in the school.
Problem of Drinking Water
In spite of the taluka blessed with the bounties of nature, daily life even for basic necessities is a problem. Some of the villages atop the mountains face drought like season and lack of drinking water continues to be a major problem. Even there is no water in the bore wells. The government and the political leadership have failed to make provision for drinking water and conservation. There is no system to stop the water flow and run off and use it for drinking and agriculture.
Positives from Khanapur
The taluka is blessed with good agro-produce and the yield of cashew nuts in Jamboti area is of higher variety in comparison to the nuts from Goa & Maharashtra. Sweet potatoes (Ratalu) are the other yields from the taluka.
The Kumbhar Samaj is in large numbers and their traditional occupation of pottery as a cottage industry has not got its due.