The 8th additional JMF court of Belagavi on Saturday directed to maintain the Status Quo of construction work of Halga-Machhe Bypass road in Belagavi taluka.
The court, hearing the petition filed by the farmers in opposition to the works, has ordered the state to maintain the status quo. The matter has been adjourned till November 23. Farmer leader Raju Marave told the court that development work on disputed land should not be undertaken.
Earlier too, the farmers had filed petition in the High Court opposing the work. The court had issued an injunction. Later It was taken back. Thus, the authorities had started the process of land acquisition. Some farmers have been protesting against this for a week. Some have been offered alternative land and some have given up on not giving land.
The government acquired 134 acres for a 9.5-km bypass road between Halaga and Machhe. A part of the land acquired for the work is said to be fertile, which has enraged a section of the affected farmers. Around 8-10 farmers have denied part with their fertile land and protested by sitting on their land
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On the first day of work, a farmer tried to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze during a protest. Another threatened to commit suicide by falling from a tree. In spite of this, the Highway Authority continued to work on the construction of a road under police security. Now, the court has directed maintain the status quo.
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Belagavi Subdivisional Officer Ravindra Karalingannavar, who responded to the ‘Prajavani’ regarding this matter said ‘Only the farmers of Vadagavi and Shahapur area have brought a Stay. We will continue to work elsewhere”.
