HUBLI: Residents staying at the Ashraya Colony in Jagadish Nagar may finally get some relief, as the Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) will take up their rehabilitation.
Seventeen acres of land, which had 612 Ashraya houses, were acquired for the expansion of the Hubli airport.
However, the residents of the colony have not been compensated. Their repeated pleas and protests failed to evince any action from the authorities.
Hubli Dharwad mayor Shivu Hiremath, who was in Bangalore to meet Urban Development Minister Vinaykumar Sorakke, told Express that the issue of rehabilitation of the residents will be taken up on priority.
“The issue has been pending for long. The residents want houses to be built next to the colony. We will apprise the minister about the situation,” he said.
As part of the rehabilitation plan, HDMC will propose to the government to ask Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to acquire land that is located next to the colony.
“This newly acquired land should be given to HDMC so that Ashraya houses can be built with the government funds,” Hiremath added.
The Ashraya colony was occupied in 2001-02 when it was constructed.
In 2006, when the plan to expand the existing airport was proposed, it was decided that around 700 acres was to be acquired, which included the 17-acre colony.
However the authorities did not fix any compensation.
Jagadish Nagar Residents’ Association secretary Premnath Chikkatumbal said: “The authorities have compensated almost everybody who lost property due to the airport expansion but not those living in the colony. Digging and other activities are being carried out without intimating the residents.”