Belagavi
MP Jagadish Shettar expressed his displeasure against Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) officials who are delaying the acquisition of 155 acres of land for the Belagavi-Dharwad new railway line project via Kittur. He directed the district administration to call a meeting of officials concerned to ascertain where the lapses have occurred in the acquisition of the land.
Shettar instructed officials that urgent action should be taken and if necessary, more compensation be given to the farmers.
Speaking at a review meeting on the ongoing central government awarded projects at the DC’s office, Shettar took information of the projects which are pending for a long time due to various reasons.
It has been 10 years since the 73 km Belagavi-Dharwad railway project started and it has been running at a snail’s pace. The delay by KIADB officials is not bearable, Shettar said.
KIADB officials said 644 acres of land is required for the railway project. However, there are hindrances to acquire 155 acres in Belagavi district. The farmers of Konduskoppa, Desuru and three more villages are obstructing the acquisition of land. The railway authorities are not cooperating to change the alignment, they said.
Shettar expressed displeasure and said the railway department will not change alignment once it is approved. The high court has also given directions in this regard, he added. The Belagavi ring road is also one of the central government awarded projects. It is surprising how the tender was called, and the work was allotted without the land acquisition being completed, he said.
Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil, Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled and DCP Rohan Jagadish were present.
