Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, May 28:  People living along the National Highway (NH) 17 from Udyavar to Hejamady who will be affected by the land acquisition for broadening the highway by 60 meters, forwarded their memorandums to both union and state governments opposing the proposed extension and urging the concerned authorities to limit it to 45 meters, as it has been followed in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district.

 
Ramdas Nayak Kundapura, president of the struggle committee, addressing the gathering, said that the concerned authority will only acquire land upto 45 meters for broadening the national highway from Talapady to Nantoor in Dakshina Kannada district, whereas it proposes to acquire land upto 60 meters in Udupi district. 

“It’s possible to lay a four lane highway on the existing space from Udyavar to Hejamady.  The unnecessary land acquisition by the governments will cause extreme hardships to residents living along the highway”, said Nayak.
 
The discussion meet of families likely to be affected, held on Tuesday May 25, also raised the disparity of authorities in applying different parameters for land acquisition in DK and Udupi districts.  The people’s right to their land is being hindered by the inappropriate measures of land acquisition, alleged the committee.
 
MLA Lalaji R Mendon accepted the memorandum from the leaders of the committee and assured them of discussing the issue with the concerned authorities and taking necessary action in the interest of local residents.
 
BJP Women’s Morcha district president Sheela Shetty, JD(S) district president Deviprasad Shetty, Kaup Billavar Sangh president Shekar Salian, D M Hegde, Ashokraj Yermal, and Mohammed Salam were present on the occasion.