A file photo of the dilapidated Ramnagar-Anmod stretch of the NH4A.
BELAGAVI
The widening of Khanapur“Goa NH4A has once again hit a major road block after the Supreme Court directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to approach the Karnataka High Court to vacate the stay obtained by environmentalists.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices L Nageshwar Rao, Hemant Gupta, and Ajay Rastogi on Wednesday dismissed the petition and granted liberty to the NHAI to approach the High Court of Karnataka.
The long pending four-six laning of about an 86-km stretch between Khanapur and Anmod has hit a major roadblock.
It may be recalled that in October 2019, environmentalist Suresh Heblikar and convenor of United Conservation Movement Joseph Hoover had filed a PIL in the Karnataka HC for a stay on the four-six laning of the NH4A stretch.
Amid disappearing green cover in the Western Ghats and the 14 kms of Kali Tiger Reserve that falls between Tinaighat and Anmod, the petitioners had submitted to the HC that any development work in the stretch would damage the fragile Western Ghats.
About 22,000 trees were felled before the work started while another 1 lakh trees are expected to come under the axe.
Earlier this year, the NHAI had approached the SC to vacate the stay and allow resumption of the work.
After a long delay, the SC gave its judgement in the matter, stalling NHAI’s efforts to restart the work on the NH4A.
NHAI is also struggling to implement the 12-km Macche-Halga bypass near Belagavi as farmers have successfully obtained the stay on that stretch as well.
Meanwhile, villagers from Ramnagar, Anmod, Joida and Tinaighat along with commuters from Goa and North Karnataka region are disappointed with the SC’s directive. They claim the road has become a nightmare for travellers due to the dilapidated conditions and rising road mishaps along the route.
