Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (DV)

Puttur, Oct 9: "The work on upgrading and four-laning the Hassan to BC Road stretch will commence in 2016. The project cost is estimated at Rs 1604.73 crore, spread over 297.743 hectares from Hassan to BC Road. This project will cover six taluks from Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts," said Manjunath, special land acquisition officer.

He was speaking at an environmental public hearing organized by the National Highways Authority of India and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board at Government Primary School, Shirady on Thursday, October 9.

"The plan is to construct four-lane road from Hassan to BC road stretching a distance of 133.860 km. It is proposed to construct three bypasses, realignment in 169 locations, three flyovers, three vehicle underpasses, three pedestrian underpasses, and four elephant underpasses in appropriate elephant corridors. There will also be one foot overbridge, two service roads, five major bridges, tow toll plazas at Aloor and Melkar, 47 bus bays with bus shelters. One foot overbridge is proposed to be constructed at Mani. The project will divert 71.678 hectare forest area from Karnataka. Negative impacts on environment will be mitigated through the environmental management plan," he explained.

Puttur taluk panchayat president Pulasya Rai said, "There are no adequate sanitation facilities in Gundiya and Shirady. NHAI should also provide sanitation facilities in bus shelters and bus bays.

Activist Kishore Shirady said, "Compensation should be provided to people who run shops even without licence. Land acquisition may create problem for students who reside along the stretch as it would hamper their studies, hence appropriate arrangements should be made for them."

Shirish Gangadhar, technical manager of NHAI said, "Compensation list has been already prepared. Those running shops without licence will also be considered for compensation."

Answering a question by K K Sebastian, member of gram panchayat, the officers also assured that demolished water resources like tanks and bore wells would be reconstructed.

George, retired military serviceman said that he had spent his savings from 36 years of service for his land and expressed fears and grief that he would lose his house. There were no comments from officials on it.