Airport privatisation: Khader opposes move

The district minister opposed the Central government’s move to privatise Mangaluru International Airport. The cabinet recently approved operating, managing and developing six non-metro airports at Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru under Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Speaking to mediapersons on Friday, he said without the confidence of the Dakshina Kannada people, the Centre has announced privatisation of the airport. The Centre should clearly inform the citizens on the pros and cons of the privatisation process and how the airport will be developed with privatisation.

He said, the state government and Mangaluru City Corporation had spent money for developing roads connecting the airport. “State cabinet is yet to discuss the issue on privatisation of airport. I will speak to DK MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and will urge him to raise the issue in the Parliament Session,” he demanded.

The minister said that the State government will construct 840 two-bedroom houses for Kodagu flood victims. The unit cost of each house is Rs 9.45 lakh.

The construction work will commence on December 7, and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is likely to lay the foundation for the work. The government has earmarked additional Rs 32 crore for providing basic infrastructure facilities including roads, water supply and drainage for the houses, he said.

The six-model houses are ready for the listed victims. One of the model house is built by Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. At least 70 houses can be constructed in one month on the model built by Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.

The Minister said the government will also pay a rent of Rs 10,000 for those flood victims who lost their houses, till the construction of new houses are completed.

The minister said that an amendment to Town Planning Act, will be tabled in the coming session of the state assembly to question the engineers on violating building norms.

“At present, only the building owners were punished for violating the approved plan for the building. The government will soon implement the amended act, which will have a clause to punish the engineer responsible for irregularities,” the minister said.