Vijayapura airport construction complete; Flight Ops Likely by March Pending SC Nod
Vijayapura: The construction of the Vijayapura airport has been completed and flight operations are likely to begin by March, subject to clearance from the Supreme Court, S G Nanjayyanamath, Chairman of the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (KSIIDC), said on Friday, Asianet News reported.
“I have visited and inspected the airport in Buranapur for the second time. All major works are finished, with only the environmental clearance pending. Since the environmental permit was not obtained initially, the matter is now under review in the Supreme Court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has strongly argued the case, and we are now just waiting for the verdict, which we expect to receive within this month,” he said.
We wrote to the Aerodrome Authority for the license on January 6. They are also expected to grant the license soon. All preparations are complete at the 727-acre airport site in Buranapur, and we are hopeful of launching flight operations by March. Nanjayyanamath said the airport would boost tourism in Vijayapura district and also benefit neighbouring Bagalkot district.
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A plan for night landing facilities is also underway. For this, land acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) will need to be transferred to the concerned department, following which the night landing system will be installed. Furthermore, a 2.65 km road will be built between Buranapur and Madabhavi to provide direct connectivity from the airport to the Sindgi National Highway, he said.
Responding to remarks by MLA Shivaganga, an associate of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, regarding a change in the state's CM, he said, 'D.K. Shivakumar is qualified to be the CM. He is already the DCM. However, the high command's decision is final. But a change is unlikely now due to the budget. A change now could cause problems for the administration and the budget. A CM change might happen after the budget.
He reportedly said that if the All-India Congress Committee decides, Shivakumar could assume office immediately, as the budget document would already be prepared. Everything is in the hands of the AICC. Talking about a change in CM just provides political entertainment to the public. He advised that no one should talk about the CM change in the state.
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Fisherman killed in crocodile attack in Odisha's Kendrapara
Kendrapara (Odisha) (PTI): A 48-year-old fisherman was killed in an attack by a saltwater crocodile in a village on the fringes of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district, a forest officer said on Wednesday.
The forest and fire brigade personnel later retrieved the maimed body from a river.
The incident took place at Baulakani village in Mahakalapada forest range when the fisherman, Deba Kumar Mandal, was dragged into the water by a crocodile while he was casting a fishing net on Tuesday afternoon. His body was retrieved on Wednesday, the officer said.
Though the incident occurred outside the national park limits, the deceased fisherman's family would be covered under an ex gratia compensation payment scheme after post-mortem examination, Varadaraj Gaonkar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, said.
As per the revised ex gratia compensation for human fatalities arising out of conflict with wild animals, the forest department will provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family, he said.
Human-crocodile conflict in areas close to the national park has resulted in the loss of four human lives in the last 12 months.
The national park is home to 1,858 saltwater crocodiles in its water bodies and river system. No crocodile death has been reported in the last one year, the DFO said.
