A legal petition has been filed against the Belgaum City Corporation for failing to pay Rs 20 crores owed for land acquisition related to a road construction project. The non-payment has put the City Corporation in a challenging position, as they are now obligated to pay the amount to the affected landowners.
The issue arises from the construction of a new road connecting the Bank of India Circle to Old PB Road in Shahapur by Belgaum Smart City Ltd. After the road was completed, a court order required land acquisition, instructing officials to compensate the owners of a 30 Guntha plot with Rs 20 crores. However, the City Corporation has not yet made this payment, leading the landowners to return to court.
The road was constructed by Belgaum Smart City Ltd. without proper land acquisition beforehand. The land was directly occupied for the construction, causing complications once the road was completed. Now, the municipal corporation is burdened with paying Rs 20 crores, even though it wasn’t directly involved in the road’s construction.
The court has already mandated the implementation of the land acquisition process and the payment of compensation. If the Belgaum City Corporation fails to comply, it could face contempt of court charges. Although the City Corporation submitted a proposal for land acquisition to the government, the issue remains unresolved.
The City Corporation is now required to deposit Rs 20 crores in court to adhere to the court’s order.
