Bengaluru : Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara said that he has consistently expressed his preference for the proposed international airport to be located near Tumakuru. He noted that the technical team has already recommended two potential sites and that the government will take the final decision. “If it comes up in Tumakuru, I will be very happy,” he said.
Speaking to the media near his residence-cum-office in Sadashivanagar today, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the technical committee had inspected locations on Kunigal Road near Nelamangala and the Bidadi region and submitted its recommendations to the government. The final decision will be taken after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) completes its technical evaluation.
Responding to a question about the BJP’s padayatra from Bidadi, the DCM said, “They will do what they believe is right. We are pursuing the township project from a development perspective. It was originally proposed by Kumaraswamy, but was later dropped. The Chief Minister has now taken it up with the intention of implementing it in a systematic manner.”
He further stated that the Chief Minister has already made it clear that no one will be forced to part with their land for acquisition. The government will only try to convince landowners through dialogue. He urged that the issue should be viewed from the perspective of the state’s development rather than through a political lens.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the Rural Development Department is working in coordination with the Revenue Department to expedite the issuance of e-Swathu documents and that the long-pending process will be completed at the earliest.
On the drought situation in the state, he said that review meetings have already been held with the Chief Minister covering the Belagavi Revenue Division, Kalaburagi Revenue Division, and the districts of Tumakuru and Chitradurga. The Chief Minister has also convened a video conference with Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs tomorrow to review the situation and issue necessary directions regarding further drought mitigation measures.
To ensure there is no shortage of drinking water, the government has released ₹5 crore to each district, with a total of ₹329 crore currently available. In addition, around ₹600 crore is available in the Deputy Commissioners’ PD accounts, and they have been instructed to utilise these funds whenever necessary.
Responding to the Opposition’s allegation that the government is limiting itself to writing letters, Dr. Parameshwara said that the Union Government has prescribed certain norms for declaring drought. “I have written to the Centre seeking relaxation of these norms so that funds can be released to the state quickly. It is not just Karnataka; the entire country is facing drought conditions. I have also written requesting that it be declared a national disaster. We are not sitting idle—we are discharging our responsibilities with sincerity,” he said.
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