Change the route of Belagavi-Kittur-Dharwad new railway line : Farmers

1.

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene has staged protests at Rani Channamma Circle in Belagavi demanding to change the Belagavi-Dharwad new railway line alignment as it passes through fertile land.

They said, The direct line between Dharwad-Belagavi via Kittur which has been the demand of the people of these 2 cities for many years. In addition, the Belagavi-Kolhapur route should be connected. We are not against the development works but against acquisition of the fertile lands in K K Koppa.

They sat in dharna at the Rani Channamma Circle and marched to Deputy Commissioner’s office and also the office of Member of Parliament Mangala Angadi

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They said that the proposed line passes through Gurlgunji, Desur, Rajhansgad, Nandihalli, Nagenhalli, KK Kopp and Halagimaradi villages that have fertile land with irrigation facilities. Acquiring such rich land will take away farmers livelihood and bring them to the streets. They demanded that the alignment of the route be changed before the Government goes ahead with land acquisition.

Proposed track alignment at Desur – KK Koppa which consists of a black soil of complete agricultural fertility. Small farmers rely on irrigated land to grow smallholder cane. The protesters therefore demanded to take action by holding meeting with the concerned department before commissioning the land acquisition.

Mangala Angadi, who spoke to farmers, said that she would look into the issue. I think the route has been finalised already. But in order to protect your interests, I will speak to union minister Pralhad Joshi and the general manager of railways in Hubballi,’’ she said.

images used in this story are for representation purpose only 

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