High Court Quashes Ring Road Notification

In a significant victory for farmers, the High Court has quashed the notification issued by the National Highways Authority regarding the proposed ring road (Honaga-Bennali to Zadshapur section). The decision is a relief to farmers who have been protesting for months to protect their fertile lands, reported the Sakal. The plan to construct a ring road through 31 villages in Belagavi taluka had sparked widespread opposition among farmers, who argued that the project would force them to relinquish water and agricultural land. Citing traffic congestion in the city as the reason for the project, authorities had moved forward without consulting the affected farmers, further fueling dissent. Farmers, turned to the courts after protests and pleas for dialogue with the authorities yielded no results. Legal experts argued on behalf of the farmers, emphasizing that the land acquisition process was conducted without their consent. This lack of consultation was deemed a critical violation, ultimately leading the court to annul the notification. Advocates F.V. Patil, Nandesh Patil, M.G. Patil, and Prasad Sadekar represented the farmers during the proceedings. Their arguments highlighted procedural lapses by the National Highways Authority, including failing to adequately consider the farmers' concerns. The court's decision halts all ongoing work related to the project, giving farmers renewed hope and strengthening their resolve to safeguard their lands from further threats.