the goan I network
BELAGAVI
While the four-laning work on the Belagavi-Panaji NH4A between Khanapur and Anmod was recently stayed after a petition by environmentalists, the bypass on the NH4A between Halga and Macche near Belagavi has also hit a major roadblock as farmers opposing the bypass have got a stay on the ongoing work on the bypass.
Work on the 12-km bypass that connects NH4 A to the Pune-Bengaluru highway bypassing the city of Belagavi had commenced about a year ago after authorities managed to acquire most of the land required as the entire road passes through private agricultural lands.
Work on the road had commenced earlier this year and was being carried out at a rapid pace.
However, about 50 farmers from the stretch claimed that the road was passing through paddy and sugarcane growing fertile land, and were protesting implementation of the bypass.
They claimed the route could have been diverted through non-fertile land that was available, but NHAI authorities had rejected their demand as impractical.
Work on the highway had stopped during monsoons and had resumed by October end, when farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Rayat Sangha decided to step up their opposition.
Not relenting to the protests, NHAI authorities continued the work and this prompted the farmers to petition the Karnataka HC.
According to Adv Ravikumar Gokakar, who pleaded for the farmers, the High Court on Thursday had granted a stay on the ongoing work until the next hearing. Farmers claimed that several farmers with the small land holdings would suffer if they lose the land for the bypass.
Meanwhile, NHAI authorities are keen to decongest heavy traffic passing through the Belagavi city and want to go ahead with the bypass work.
