Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Feb 3: The four-laning of national highway 75 stretch between B C Road and Addahole is progressing at a brisk pace and this has ignited the hope that the work will move ahead at the same speed and also that it will be finished in time and opened for traffic.

Even though the work on the road widening is moving well, there are complaints that those land owners who lost their land and buildings for road widening have not been paid compensation. Many have been driven to the streets after losing their properties.

It is gathered that the company executing the road widening contract has been pressuring the shops to vacate forthwith without any notice. Some distressed people told mediapersons at Melkar on Wednesday February 2 that on this issue, verbal altercation took place between the merchants and people representing the contractors. They stated that farmers, landowners and merchants who will be losing properties from B C Road and Addahole have not been paid their dues, and they are forced to run from pillar to post to get their compensation as they are facing a financial crisis.

The owners say that while it is their duty to help development projects, the government is also expected to disburse compensation in a proper way and timely manner.

Compensation paid four years ago

When the highway widening work is being executed, whenever the plans get modified and additional land is required to be acquired, only in such cases, land is being taken from owners. In such cases, compensation payment is pending for a few land owners. There could have been delay in disbursement in cases where there are technical faults, improper documents, land in joint names and others disputes on the land. Other than that, no compensation is pending disbursement as it was paid four years ago when the government took up the highway widening project, said special land acquisition officer, Manjunath. He said that notices were served then and there is no need for fresh notices now.

Underpass

An underpass for vehicles is being built at Melkar, Panemangalore. Some land acquisition was pending here. Engineers of the National Highways Authority of India visited the spot and conducted survey. Manjunath confessed that disbursement of compensation to a few merchants and landowners is yet to be done there and that the amounts will be paid as soon as documents are provided. He also stated that if there are any problems or if the payment of money is pending relating to the widening of national highway between B C Road and Addahole, the concerned may contact the land acquisition office at Hassan or get in touch with special land acquisition officer, Manjunath.