BELAGAI
The road-widening of the Belagavi-Panaji NH4A has been facing one obstacle after another and now, the ongoing stretch between Belagavi and Khanapur has hit another major roadblock as farmers from Khanapur have stalled the work on the 6-km road bypassing Khanapur town.
Out of the 86-km road widening work, about 26 km of the highway would be six-laned while the remaining portion would be four-laned.
Demanding fair and uniform compensation for their piece of land acquired by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in executing this stretch, the Khanapur farmers have alleged that the authority has been biased in awarding fair rates to farmers on the stretch.
Stalling the work on the bypass from January 1, the farmers have said they will not allow the contractor to continue the work unless the NHAI addresses their grievances and pays fair compensation.
The farmers claimed that the NHAI had assured that rates offered for the land acquired would be reviewed and disparities, if any, would be settled and the amount would be revised.
According to sources, government officials are expected to meet the farmers to resolve the issue.
This is the third major obstacle to road-widening work.
Earlier, farmers from Belagavi have obtained a stay order on the Macche-Halga 12 km bypass near Belagavi while the work between the Khanapur“Anmod has been stalled for over a year after a stay granted by the Karnataka High Court on a plea by environmentalists.
