Airport expansion: Displaced families seek alternative sites, stage protest

Several people who have lost their houses and residential plots following land acquisition for the Hubballi Airport expansion staged a protest in front of the Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) office on Saturday, alleging delay in the allotment of alternative sites to the remaining displaced families.

Ragotham N. Kulkarni, who led the protest held under the aegis of ‘Hubballi Viman Nildana Santrastara Okkoota’, alleged that HDUDA officials had provided incorrect information to the government and the High Court of Karnataka, resulting in affected people not receiving alternative sites at Rayanal and Bhairidevarakoppa in Hubballi.

He questioned the injustice in compensation rates fixed for plots under Survey No. 594B of Unakal village, stating that KIADB had paid ₹600 per square foot in 2008, while compensation was fixed at ₹450 per square foot for similar plots in 2011-12.

He alleged that HDUDA, which earlier charged ₹224 per square foot for alternative sites, had now fixed the rate at ₹485 which was unfair to the people.

Parvati Pagade, an 80-year-old woman who took part in the protest, said the plot was registered in her late husband’s name and that the family had been waiting for rehabilitation for over a decade. She said they continued to live in a rented house with son and grandchildren and struggle to meet rental expenses.

Shakir Sanadi, Chairman of HDUDA, and MLA M.R. Patil met the protesters and heard their grievances. Mr. Sanadi assured them that a meeting would be held at his office on January 24 to examine documents and redress their grievances. The association later submitted a memorandum to the chairman.