Karwar: Chairing a progressive review meeting of widening of national highway in the district, Deputy Commissioner SS Nakul on Friday has instructed IRB Company officials to speed up the clearance of a portion of Sadashivgad Hill near Kali Bridge for four lane national highway.

He said the stumbling boulders from these hills are posing threats to commuters and there is urgent need to prevent these accidents and asked officials to make an alternative road on sea side as well as continue the work on the hill road.  For this, he asked officials to block the highway for two three hours during lean traffic movement period and use the services of barges and other alternatives for transportation during clearance time, he instructed.

Security certificate

He asked officials concerned to clear the houses and commercial establishments at Bhatkal and Honnavar at the earliest. "Identify land to rehabilitate those who would be displaced and have no alternative house," he said. 

He asked IRB officials to provide security certificate for work being taken up as hills near Belase, Shiroor, Majali and neighboring areas are witnessing landslides.  He instructed officials to increase signboards, warning signs, and signal dippers at the working site of four lane highwahighway.

Disputed land

As per national highway rules, the land in dispute should also be handed over to NHAl after depositing the compensation amount with the courts.  However, after final verdict on the disputed land should not delay the land utilization. The company can construct compound walls that are demolished during road widening and the IRB Company should plant saplings on either side of the road.

 Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna, (NHAI officials and IRB company officials and others were present.