Land acquisition picks-up

TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
BELGAUM: The four-laning of the Belgaum-Panjim NH4A is expected to commence soon as authorities have accelerated the process of land acquisition between Khanapur and Belgaum.
Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum, N Jayaram, who has been appointed the head of the tribunal to resolve the long-pending land acquisition issue, has been organizing meetings of farmers in Belgaum and Khanapur talukas to discuss and resolve the issue.
“Except for the proposed 9-km Halaga-Macche bypass, most farmers have agreed to part with the required land. However compared with the present market value of the land, they have been demanding for a better rate,” Jayaram told media persons.
“I have convened a meeting on July 27 with the farmers from Khanapur taluka who will be losing their land in four-laning project. A decision will be taken after listening to their grievances. We are in the process of accelerating the four-laning of the highway as it is overdue since last couple of years,” informed Jayaram.
Commuters from either side were expecting the four-laning work to commence shortly after old mango trees along the NH4 between Khanapur and Belgaum were felled last year. However to their disappointment, the situation remains the same while traffic congestion and accidents are on the rise in that stretch.
With the intervention of the District Administration and NHAI authorities, commuters hope for an early solution of the land acquisition issue that has reportedly delayed the four-laning process of the National Highway between Belgaum, Khanapur, Ramnagar and Anmod.