He was speaking to reporters at a highway picketing organised under the aegis of National Highway Action Committee to protest against the government’s move of acquiring 60 meters of land for the four-laning of NH-17 between Nanthoor and Talappady, at Thokkotu on Thursday.

He said that the national highways in Kerala and Goa are being widened limiting the land acquisition to 45 meters on both sides. However, the State government and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to acquire 60 meters of land to widen the road between Nanthoor and Talappady on NH-17, despite the fact that four-lane or even six-lane road can be developed by acquiring 45 meters land, he added.

“People do not oppose development works. They will be willing to handover land, if the acquired land was used completely for road widening. However, it is unfortunate that more land is being acquired than actual requirement,” he said.

“We have already discussed the issue with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. If the government does not withdraw the proposal, the protest will be intensified in the next stage,” Khader warned.  Action Committee Members Dinakar Ulllal, Dinesh Rao, P C Hashir, Naveen Shetty Khadar Talappady and others were present.