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Bhatkal – The issue of widening the National Highway 66 (presently NH-17) has gained momentum since the verdict on its expansion was made public. The pulsating issue has caught on the frenzy of several debates and discussions in various associations representing the interests of the Bhatkalli community.
In 2011, the people of Bhatkal under the banner of Tanzeem organized a massive protest against its bypass and demanded the present highway be routed through the town, supporting the central government’s plan to make it a 4-lane road. After that, many proposals were suggested including flyover, But last week when the notification was issued in the newspapers, residents of Nawayat colony and Muglihonda gathered at Tanzeem office and lodged a strong protest against this and blamed Tanzeem for keeping them in dark regarding this project. They demanded highway to be bypassed and taken out of the residential area.
Keeping this in mind, ‘Bhatkallys.com’ visited different organizations in Bhatkal and tried to get their view on the issue.
Bhatkal Merchant Association:
Bhatkal Merchant Association has strongly favoured highway bypass and they are against Tanzeem’s decision from day one to allow highway to pass through the town.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of its representative said, ‘We will not allow the highway to pass through the residential area.’ Supporting their viewpoint, he said, ‘If it is not bypassed, around 800 shops will be closed and 140 families lose their houses. This will lead to unemployment and cause losses He said, “We have submitted our objections to the highway authority and we expect the decision will be taken in our favour when the highway authority meet in Mangalore on 22nd January 2013 to take final decision.”
Majlis Islah wa Tanzeem:
Majlis Islah wa Tanzeem, an organization representing Bhatkali people at all fronts is against highway bypass and it has already demonstrated its stand on this issue two years back by holding a massive rally against bypass.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the representative of Tanzeem said, “Some people are blaming Tanzeem for keeping them in dark on this issue and making partiality, but let me clear one thing, we have not taken any decision single handed. We collectively took this decision after having series of meetings with all Markazi Jamats, representatives of Masjid committees and representatives of people residing near the highway.
Answering the query he said, ‘We took the decision against bypass after studying all the angles and considering all the parties. We are trying our best to minimize the losses in case of highway passing through the town. We are constantly in touch with the concerned authorities to reduce the width from 60 m to some acceptable limit.’
It may be interesting to note that, except Bhatkal the demand for bypass is not heard from anywhere between the full stretch of NH-66 starting from Kundapur to Goa border. If the highway is bypassed, additional 130 crore rupees are required compared to present plan and many farmers lose their agricultural land who had already lost their land earlier in Konkan Railway Project. Apart from this, large portion of forest land is also required for this purpose, for which it is very difficult to get permission from the forest department.
What people say?
People believe that, it is unfair to acquire 60 m land from one side. This way they will lose their homes in which they are living since 30 – 40 years. And it is not so easy to purchase new land due to high prices. They blame Tanzeem for keeping them in dark regarding the amount of land acquired for this purpose. Earlier they thought, 30 m will be acquired from both sides, but when the notification was sent out, people were surprised to know that, as much as 60 m land may go from any side of the road. They are demanding Tanzeem to take strong action on this issue and pressurize the concerned authorities to reduce the width limit.
BMJ Eastern Province does not support the expansion of the National Highway
BMJ Eastern Province has urged Majlise Islah O Tanzeem Tanzeem to reconsider its stand on widening of NH 66. The issue was discussed during the executive meeting held on Januray 16 2013. Citing all the difficulties that the general public will encounter in case the existing National Highway was expanded, the Jamaat has sent its recommendations to Tanzeem, favoring bypass avoiding the populated zone.
Readers are invited to comment on this topic.
Last updated on 17 January, 2013.
Bhatkallys News Service / Rizwan Gangavali
January 17, 2013 at 11:19 AM
We all live in a democratic India which supports the improvement of town Infrastructure with good roads, hospitals and schools. All this plays an important role in the development of the city. How can people blame Tanzeem, a social organisation as having its own benefit. My sympathies are with the people living on the highway across Indian highways. Most of these people are living on encroached land and it is not the job of Tanzeem to look into the matter, considering anybody’s personal gain or loss. If we people are so worried, then let the civil authorities and court decide on the factor. People should consider losing a bit of their personal interest, keeping in view the national interest over their personal gain or loss.
Comment edited for clarity and brevity by Bhatkallys.com Admin
January 17, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Dear Mohammed Mukhtar
Please read my below comment and reply..
i am waiting for your reply.
January 17, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Dear Readers – Why do we need the highway from inside the town or why do we need to bypass the highway? Let’s first anaylze. When the present highway was constructed, it was considered a bypass from the main road, Baazar and street. If you see any city highway which has to be constructed, it will be built outside the town or city and people will then settle near the outskirt of the town because of the road connectivity.
Our fear is a secondary option. Why are we not planning to settle down near the new bypass highway. In this way, we can solve many problems. Firstly, land will be comparatively cheaper near the bypass road. We will have a larger area to expand the town.
We can open businesses near the highway like petrol station, hotel & restaurants. We can do real estates business by taking the surrounding land.
Now the question is how it would impact the business community. Agreed, our 800 shops will have shift or close ( more than 2500 people will be unemployed). Some 140 houses will be demolished. Our valuable NA and resisted land or even encourage land will included in highway land value will go up and it will become difficult to buy any property inside town and what we get will be nothing less than 1 lakh rupee per gunta
This price does not exist in Bhatkal market. In my view anybody who is working on the issue, we should support the bypass. Fact is that we need an expansion of the highway but we still cannot decide whether it has to be routed from within the town or the exterior.
Regards
Abdul Majid
Comment edited for clarity and brevity by Bhatkallys.com Admin
January 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM
Most of those opposing NH going thru the existing has an agenda that their land will go… When development is required some give and take is required… Muslims are most concentrated in and around existing NH and when they travel to mangalore, Kundapur, Karwar, Bangalore and Kerala and Mumbai on a regular basis they will have security risk of going to Bypass far away to catch transportation every day… BMJ Dammam cannot go against Tanzeem’s decision as Tanzeem takes decision as cited in the report after studying the matter thoroughly and taken all views and not like one small group which can take decision which will not have any relevance and based on some individual… Merchants assoc may have few valid points though but we all should support Tanzeem whatever they decide..
January 17, 2013 at 6:08 PM
We do not have any property after the widening road.
Q: so who cares…?
Answer: No one.
guyzz dont be selfish…
January 17, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Assalamalaikum bhatkals Muslim brothers and sisters ,,so far I read the bhatkal news and I really upset with our Muslims brother ..why they have to blame our tanzeem instead of blame ourself because first thing I want to say is from 3 decades we know how our highway going to be in future and some they get greedy to acquire partials land not belongs to people its for national highway any my dear people of bhatkal you should have be proud that if we have good highway we will have good business and that the way city builds and one more thing when u guy build houses and shops infornt and close to the highway you guys didn’t realised that bhatkal will not be same in few decades so its your mistake to build and don’t put a blame on tanzeem and plus tanzeem never told you guys to build and acquire the partials land that belongs to highway
January 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM
I think bypass would have been better . It will help the expansion of our town and also feeling bad for the people loosing their homes and business places .It will be very difficult for them to get back what they had and Also you cannot blame Tanzeem alone …
January 17, 2013 at 9:42 PM
According to my survey and personal discussion, no notice is issued to the effective persons, though authority persons visited and counted the area etc.
Some of the effective persons are having RTC (Maliki land also) In the circumstances the authority to give notice and clear idea of cutting their lands and homes etc. In the circumstances, for solving the grievances an individual can approach Tanzeen / court.
January 17, 2013 at 10:09 PM
A person needs bypass surgey if the arteries are clogged.Similiarly ,our main road is clogged nowadays and the new highway should be a bypass.People sitting in chowk bazaar and Asarkeri should not take short sighted decisions motivated by vested interests thereby ignoring the interests of people living in the prosective affected areas.
January 19, 2013 at 12:02 PM
medical logic does not work elsewhere and one cannot apply according to one’s whims and fancies.. It is immature to say that tanzeem’s decision is taken by asarkeri and chowk people alone.. moreover, there’s nothing wrong in they being part of the decision as they may be semi-educated but people like them know the ground realities well. If we go by your own logic, vested interest works both ways… We just sit outside and judge without analysing anything.. A good portion of the land very adjacent to NH is encroached and is illegal and unislamic to acquire such land.. It is time they return the land gracefully… Those who will genuinely lose the land shud demand good compensation citing the rates in Bhatkal though they may not get that rate but they may get little more than the govt rates..
January 20, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Dear Editor,
I think it is offensive to comments Tanzeem and their Executive body to label them as people from Chawk Bazar and Aasrkeri. I wish ‘ Team Bhatkallys’ will edit such comments.
January 21, 2013 at 1:34 PM
Thank you for your feedback. We will enforce a comments policy with your suggestions in view and expect our readers not to make anti-institution or personal remarks.
Bhatkallys Admin
January 19, 2013 at 1:27 PM
Answer: I want draw your attention to the present NH 17. It connects Panvel (near Mumbai) to Kochi in Kerala. It is the 7th longest highway in India with 1,296 km (including the following towns: Panvel, Mahad, Khed, Chiplun, Hatkhamba (Ratnagiri), Rajapur, Kankavli, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Panaji, Margao, Karwar, Kumta, Bhatkal, Kundapura, Udupi, Surathkal, Mangalore, Kasaragod, Taliparamba, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadakara, Kozhikkode, Kottakkal, Ponnani, Kodungallur, North Paravur and Edappally in Kochi)
Let me draw attention to all these cites and towns on the route which are populated. The widening of the NH17 was commissioned in the year 2000. Many inhabitants in these areas have lost court battles.
Why the government of India should divert the present NH 66 from its existing route which already has an established cost of division at almost 500% more than the present route. The diversion of this route is not suitable because of environmental challenges which is well known for it’s agriculture and greenery. Also, the government has surely undertaken a feasibility study before starting the widening project and it will take into consideration all the pros and cons.
Ans: answer for settling on the near new by pass highway are you aware about the habitant of the town mostly men are away from the Home for the earning of livelihood for the safety of habitant of town it prefer to stay in present town , I will you example of the present town , why people are vacating the old town , have you analyse it , it because improper plan and narrow road
We can open businesses near the highway like petrol station, hotel & restaurants. We can do real estates business by taking the surrounding land.
This town depend the economy on the gulf petro dollar , if we really want to developed the town we need provide opportunity for younger generation we neeed to have qualtity health care education , we required develop industry in fishing and packaging food , call Center for gulf where we have enough Arabic learned scholar ,
Ans:I don’t think any shop will close and neither will anyone be unemployed because of widening of the highway through town. The price of land in today Bhatkal is totally unrealistic. It is high because only of land mafia which exists in Bhatkal. It is not wise to blame the social organisation for this kind or project as it is a social organisation which deals with the social problems.
Regards
Dr Mukhtar
Comment edited for clarity and brevity by Bhatkallys.com Admin
January 21, 2013 at 1:25 PM
Tanzeem has taken care of all the issues related with widening is not true becuase their decision was based on widening with in limits where we were not suffering any losses like 22 mtrs each side as per GS at that time. I personally met with him. Secondly he was clue less when i countered him with question of nh authority not accepting our proposal of 22mts each side.
Thanks.
January 20, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Dear Editor,
Thank you for covering a very sensitive yet an important issue, which is connected with Bhatkal People.
I request you to get offical version from the Assistant Commissioner, who will have right information and will be able to clarify Govt position.
There are as many version available in public domain, all different from each other. I believe Tanzeem Tanzeem proposed to the NH authority to widen the existing road based on certain information available at that time; such as if the external Road to be carved out it could be 7 to 8 km outside the current road, which naturally was not acceptable to us.
Now that a new version emerged that new road can be just 2 to 3 km away from town. This to our mind is much more acceptable solution since 2 to 3 km will be very reasonable distance and that would not have major impact on Bhatkal town.
Another alternative could be an elevated road – for highway and local transpiration could be from the existing road system. This could be costly, but considering long term benefits, it could be a mid way solution.
Dear Editor, if you could get comments from AC and Political leader will add value to the discussions.
January 21, 2013 at 1:57 PM
The formation of new committee by tanzeeem tells us that everything is not ok with previous decision.Gulf jamats including KC not discussed this issue in any of their meeting or conferences in the last 3 years reason lack of coordination (communication gap) from our central instituion (known fact). For some of the responsible people speaking against tanzeem decision was crime at that time.
January 21, 2013 at 5:24 PM
ASAK ;I found the discussion is going on in between Tanzeem only. The widening the High way is by the world Bank loan, there is also condition that the sufferer should be given the land /shop etc. within a short distance.
The Government and widening authority should have to issue notice to each individual, that has also not done. Every thing is in dark, though the Government authority has taken the measurement and marking etc. in each place.
Mohammed Mukhtar is already stated that the price of land in today Bhatkal is totally unrealistic. It is high because only of land mafia which exists in Bhatkal. It is not wise to blame the social organisation for this kind or project as it is a social organisation which deals with the social problems.Accordingly you will find that the land price may increase like anything that what is going on in Nawaite colony etc. The original land owner will wait for the maximum time and maximum price for the sale and as such it may be the result of IDHAR SE BE GAYE UDHAR SE BHI GAYE. THE TANZEEM / INDIVIDUAL SHOULD ASK THE NOTICE IN DETAILS TO AVOID FURTHER CONSEQUENCES TO THE SUFFERER.
January 22, 2013 at 4:02 AM
The Government /Municipality, and widening authority should have to issue notice to each individual, that has also not done. Every thing is in dark, though the Government authority has taken the measurement and marking etc. in each place. In Mumbai, the BHAIYA PEOPLE, I have experienced that for not getting proper compensation, they have approached to court and accordingly such widening and making the bridge etc. was pending for years to gather. Govt. officials and N.G.O’s are bluffing , they don’t give proper rate. In such cases court give proper decision and proper rate ordered by the Court to pay such required compensation.
The Konkan Railway authority also bluffed to the individuals, taken their lands for Konkan Railway Development, offering them good compensation and employments to their children in the Railway to the Konkani Muslim Community. They have received compensation, small amount, but they have not any employment as per the assurance, which was ought to be there, but I regret to say that even after decades periods are over no employment, even to handicapped children.
The Collector /Commissioner /Assisstant Commissioner has to make the arrangement for all these compensation and give the transfer lands etc. The matter must go to such authorities.
January 23, 2013 at 11:38 PM
I do not have any property on highway, however, considering number of people who are seriously injured/die every year due to road accidents, I prefer bypass if it is passing within three km from town center. This will make our internal roads much safer for driving and thus road accidents will reduced.
May be the decision taken by tanzeem was right at that time, however considering new situation, there is no harm for tanzeem to reconsider thier earlier stand and approach concerned authorities again and recommend bypass in lieu of widening existing highway or if same is not possible, then exert pressure on Highway authorities to acquire land upto say 35 only on each side.