Acquire 100 acres for airport upgradation, says Govind Karjol

BELAGAVI: District minister Govind Karjol has directed the officials to prepare a proposal for acquiring 100acre land for the upgradation of Sambra airport here. He has also instructed them to start the procedure to acquire 600acre land required for laying new railway tracks between Belagavi and Dharwad.
Speaking during a project review meeting held at the DC’s office here on Tuesday, Karjol said: “There is a need of an additional 100 acres to upgrade Belagavi airport to international standards. So one must restrain the purchase and sale of lands abutting the airport.”
Airport controller Rajeshkumar Maurya said the state government is expected to prepare a proposal regarding the airport’s upgradation. Based on that, the demand will be forwarded to Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Karjol also spoke on 600acre land needed for the Belagavi-Dharwad new railway track via Kittur. For this, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Authority (KIADB) should issue a notification. The minister spoke to the KIADB CEO and asked him to complete the process of gazette notification.
Belagavi Deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil said of the 600acre required for the project, notices have been issued for 444acre. There was a court stay order on the rest 156acre. With the stay lifted now, legal hurdles for the project has ended.
Govind Karjol also called the chief secretary of the revenue department seeking approval of Rs 35 crore for the land acquisition needed for Kudachi-Bagalkot railway project.
Belagavi member of parliament Mangala Angadi, Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi, MLA Anil Benake were present. Belagavi (South) MLA Abhay Patil was absent. This follows differences between him and Karjol over the Ballari Nala issue.