BELAGAVI
Hopes to restart the long-pending four and six laning work along the Khanapur-Anmod NH4A have been delayed yet again, as the Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on the stay obtained by the environmentalists.
The hearing has now been postponed for November 26. This is the sixth time the Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on the matter, leaving NHAI authorities and the contractor in a quandary.
It may be recalled that the environmentalists -- Suresh Heblikar and Joseph Hoover -- had obtained a stay from the Karnataka High Court in November last year citing that national highway passes through the protected forests areas next to Kali Tiger Reserve on the Goa-Karnataka border.
About 22,000 trees were felled before the work started while another one lakh trees are expected to come under the axe.
Environmentalists had further contended that about 14 km of the stretch passes through a thick forest which is home to wildlife including elephants, tigers and cobras. The proposed road passes through a critical elephant corridor between Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.
The work which was being carried out at rapid pace has now come to a total standstill due to the postponements of hearings by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, motorists and commuters between Karnataka and Goa are going through a tough time due to the dilapidated road, which has led to many accidents.
The locals have also raised concerns in the matter as huge potholes and trenches on the road have made their lives miserable.
