Say ring-road, by-pass projects will cause huge losses
Farmers taking part in the ‘Chabuk Morcha’ (whip cracking rally) in Belagavi on Monday.
Photo Credits: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
A large number of farmers on Monday staged a ‘Chabuk Morcha’ (whip cracking rally) to demand the cancellation of the proposed ring road around Belagavi City and diversion of the proposed Belagavi-Dharwad railway line and the by-pass on the Belagavi-Goa NH4A.
Stating that both projects would cause huge losses to farmers, the farmers demanded that immediate action should be initiated to prevent the implementation of the above projects.
Displaying unity, farmers from Belagavi taluka gathered at the Dharmaveer Sambhaji Chowk (Bogarves Circle) at around 11 am.
Cracking whips and shouting slogans, the rally proceeded via College Road, Rani Chenamma Circle demanding cancellation of ring road project and diversion of the Halga-Macche bypass on the Belagavi Goa NH4A.
“We will not part with even one inch of our land as scores of farmers and their families would be rendered landless,” a farmer leader told Deputy Commissioner Dr Nitesh Patil.
Conducted under the banner of Belgaum Taluka Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, farmers from 32 affected villages including Agasga, Ambewadi, Bachi, Bahaddarwadi, Belgundi, Kadoli, Kakati, Bijgarni, Gojge and Honga other took part in the rally.
Farmers from the Halaga-Macche bypass on the NH4A comprising Modga, Navage, Santibastwad, Sonatti, Sulge-Yellur, Dhamane, Turmuri, Uchgaon, Waghwade, Yermal and Zadarshapur also took part in the whip march.
The entire college road was jam packed as organisations like Shiv Sena, Shri Ram Sena Hindustan, Yuva Samiti, and women of various unions and organisations also joined the march in large. Amid sounds of dhol-tashas, farmers expressed their anguish by cracking whips along the route.
Meeting the protestors and accepting their demands, Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil assured farmers that their demands would be forwarded to competent authorities.
“All three projects are ambitious projects of the Centre and meant for the development of Belagavi and betterment of citizens. However, work on the bypass has been halted due to the high court’s stay order, while the ring road is not yet tendered. We will also hold a joint meeting of farmers and stakeholders to work out a possible solution to the farmer’s grievances,” said Deputy Commissioner Patil.
A huge police force was deployed along the route and around the city. Police Commissioner Dr M B Borlingiah, DCP Ravindra Gadadi, ACPs N V Barmani, Chandrappa and Kattimani were monitoring the morcha. Except for traffic jam in certain parts of the city no untoward incident was reported.
