Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily has said that international status for the Mangalore airport will be announced before the valedictory of the diamond jubilee celebration of the Mangalore airport scheduled to be held in December.

Speaking at the diamond jubilee celebrations of Mangalore airport organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Sunday, he said: “We are ready to give all the infrastructure to the airport. The facilities should be used with the growth of agriculture, industry in the region.”

Naming Mangalore airport after U S Mallya is befitting as it was he who strove hard for the establishment of the airport with his vision.

The runway length can be extended by 13,000 feet in phases. About 250 acre land needs to be acquired for the extension of the runway. The people of the region should coopearte with the development work which will benefit the future of the region.

He said there is a need to march forward keeping along the legacy of our forefathers.

The people of the region should come out of the prejudice mindset and help in the growth of the region. Challenging mindset is the need of the hour, he added.

Stating that Mangalore airport is the precious asset of Karnataka, Moily said the passenger traffic has been growing tremendously in the airport from 7.7 lakh in 2005 to 8.5 lakh in 2010.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said cargo complex is necessary for the export of cashew, jasmine in the region. Stating that people of the region are not opposed to development, he said people are opposed to injustice meted out on them. The industries which will come in the region should not cause disaster.

Assembly Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat said a proposal on the naming of airport after U S Mallya will be tabled before the Session in the Assembly. After taking a decision in the Assembly, it will be sent to the Union government.

The State government has earmarked Rs 15 crore for the land acquisition for the extension of runway.

Mangalore Airport Director M R Vasudeva said that the airport was fetching only Rs 4 crore revenue in 2002. Now it has been increased to Rs 36 crore revenue and Rs 30 crore expenditure.

Several people have sacrificed their land for the runway. The runway was set up in coordination with the people of the region.

Demands

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President G G Mohandas Prabhu submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Law and Justice to be submitted to the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Vayalar Ravi.

The demands included declaring Mangalore airport as an international airport, increasing the length of the runway, taxiway apron, precision approach lighting system, naming the airport as U S Mallya International Airport Mangalore and starting air cargo handling facility at the airport.

‘River diversion after study’

Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily has said that the decision on Nethravathi river diversion will be taken after the technical report and preliminary study report.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of diamond jubilee celebrations of Mangalore airport here on Sunday, he said the preliminary survey is not complete.

The project aims at diverting only those water which enter the sea. However, it will not affect the people from Baindur to Ullal.