Media Release
Udupi, Feb 17: Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary has directed officials to expedite the land acquisition process required for the development works of National Highway 169 passing through Karkala, and to ensure that fair and scientific compensation is paid to landowners.
He was presiding over a review meeting held at the District Collector’s office hall at Rajathadri in Manipal to discuss the progress of National Highway works and the status of land acquisition compensation in Karkala Assembly constituency, covering Karkala, Bajagoli and Mala stretches.
The MP stated that the land acquisition process for the development of NH 169 is currently under way. He noted that several local residents, who have been living in their homes and cultivating agricultural land for many years, are now required to part with their properties for the highway expansion. He stressed that compensation must be fixed based on prevailing market value so that affected families can rebuild their future livelihoods.
He further instructed that all National Highway projects within the district be taken up on priority and completed at the earliest to facilitate smooth movement of traffic for the public.
With regard to the Malpe–Karavali Junction stretch, he called for speeding up and completing the land acquisition process so that highway construction can proceed without delay.
Deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K, addressing the meeting, said that officials have been instructed to conduct a detailed and accurate survey of houses, agricultural lands and other properties coming under acquisition, and to fix compensation in line with current market value.
MLA Sunil Kumar emphasised that maximum possible compensation should be provided to affected homeowners and landowners. He pointed out that compensation offered for land acquisition under NH 169A in a neighbouring district is higher, leading to confusion among landowners due to discrepancies in compensation for the same highway project. He urged officials to determine and disburse compensation strictly in accordance with the law.
The meeting was attended by additional deputy commissioner Abid Gadyal, DFO Ruthrain P, additional superintendent of police Sudhakar Nayak, assistant commissioner Rashmi, district-level implementing officers, tahsildars, engineers of the National Highways Authority, contractors, and other officials.