Khanapur MLA staging a protest / rasta roko on the NH4A on Saturday.
Photo Credits: Louis Rodrigues
BELAGAVI
Demanding the immediate repairs of the highly dilapidated 52 km Khanapur- Anmod stretch of the Belagavi-Goa NH4A, Khanapur MLA Anjali Nimbalkar and large number of people comprising men and women from Khanapur taluka blocked the highway near Rumewadi Cross near Khanapur. The protests that lasted for over two hours resulted in a heavy traffic jam on the busy highway.
“People of Khanapur taluka and commuters from Goa are going through tough time since last couple of years as the authorities are delaying repairing it, despite getting legal clearances. Life has become hell for the people in the region, especially for the patients who have to go to Belagavi for their treatments. After our continuous appeals, Government of Karnataka has floated tenders for a meagre Rs 5 crore recently which is not sufficient for the repair of 52 km route,” MLA Nimbalkar said.
"We have demanded that government releases at least Rs 10 crore so that the road can be repaired properly and becomes motorable. We have also given an ultimatum to the government to revise the tender within four days or else we have warned that the agitation will be intensified further, she said.
Protestors also blamed the local MP Anantkumar Hegde for turning a blind eye towards the grievances faced by people of Khanapur taluka. “People are agitated and planning to lodge a missing complaint against the MP who was not seen in Khanapur since long time,” protestors said.
Khanapur Tehshildar Reshma Talikoti assisted by NHAI authorities and Khanapur PI Suresh Shingi who visited the site assured the protestors that the memorandum would be forwarded to the higher authorities for appropriate action. A memorandum giving a four days ultimatum was handed over to Tehshildar Talikoti.
