Mangalore Airport to Get International Status Before Dec 21: Moily
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Nov 20: "Mangalore airport will get international status before it completes its diamond jubilee next month on December 21. Everything is ready, and only the announcement is pending which shall be made in the coming days," said union corporate affairs minister Veerappa Moily.
Speaking to reporters at 'meet the press' programme here on Sunday November 20, Moily said that he was happy to announce that the airport would soon get international tag, and that he had already held discussions with civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi in this regard.
On MSEZ, he said Rs 46,000 crore has already been invested in it, and that 80 percent of the farmers have agreed for the denotification of land for the second phase of the project. "MSEZ will generate about two lac employment opportunities, so the state government should take appropriate steps to ensure that it sails smoothly without further setbacks," he added.
On the issue of UPCL project, he said it was ready to transmit 1,500 MW of power, but there is no transmission line, and it is up to the state government to take action on this. The project will solve power problems in the region to a great extent, he said, adding that he had already spoken to the chief minister and urged him to prioritise this issue.
He further said that a sum of Rs 60 crore has been released for Dakshina Kannada district under the Rajiv Gandhi electricity project, out of the 6,000 crore released nationwide.
Speaking about the various road projects in the state, he said work on the Kundapur-Suratkal-Talapady road connectivity is going on in full swing, and that the route will have four bypass roads in places like Padubidri and others. The project will be completed soon, he assured.
About Mangalore-Hassan road widening project, he said it has been sanctioned already and on Friday November 25 a survey will be carried out in this regard.
The Shiradi Ghat ghat stretch will be repaired soon at a cost of Rs 5 crore to be released by the centre, he said, and in future, the state government will take up the work of converting it into four lanes at its own cost, which will be reimbursed by the centre.
The Teerthahalli-Agumbe-Udupi road has been planned at a cost of Rs 175 crore. The state government is expected to submit a report on this, after which the work will be initiated, he said.
On Mangalore port, he informed that a container terminal will come up which will raise its standards. Also, the harbour will be extended and steps will be taken to ensure better connectivity between road, rail and the port.
When the issue of Anti-Communal Violence Bill was raised, he said the Bill was prepared in 2005 and was scrutinised in every aspect. 'When the Constitution was formed, communal hatredness and incidents of violence we see today were not expected. But the current scenario has made the Bill a necessity. Though there is opposition from many parties apart from the BJP, their opinions will be considered. But in view of national security the bill will be passed very soon," he said.
Taking potshots at senior BJP leader L K Advani, he said his Jan Chetna Yatra was an attempt to project himself as a candidate for the PM's post. "His party in Karnataka is neck-deep in corruption and he is not able to do anything. He wants to garner mass support like Anna Hazare, but he is not a tall figure like A B Vajpayee, though the BJP thinks so," he said.
About the controversial Netravati river diversion project which has been opposed by many, he said it was not diversion but only pumping of drinking water from Ettinahole to supply it to other districts like Chikballapur and Kolar. "It is only to provide potable water to other districts, hence, the project need not be opposed," Moily said.
On the issue of inclusion of Tulu and Kodava in the 8th schedule of the Constitution, he said a committee had been formed which will submit its report soon. He expressed confidence that there would be no problems regarding the absence of script in the languages, and that their absence in currency notes would not be a hindrance for their inclusion.
To a question, he said there are intercity trains between Karnataka coast and Kerala, but none within Karnataka. He said a proposal was afoot to begin an intercity train between mangalore and karwar and other places.
When asked his opinion on Rahul Gandhi being touted as the next PM, he said Rahul's current priority is to win the elections in UP and nothing else.
The amendments to Companies Act may get cabinet approval by November 24 and will be introduced in the forthcoming winter session, he said.
To a query, he said the Lokpal Bill will be placed before the parliament in the winter session.
He expressed his displeasure at the proposal to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states and said that UP chief minister Mayawati was playing vote bank politics in view of the coming elections. "There should be national-level discusssions on it. Let the national development council decide," he added.
He assured that inflation would come down in December. "It is the crude oil and the rate of petroleum that is causing inflation. It will reduce by next month."
To another query, he said as many as 8 lac undertrials had been released across the nation between January 2010 and July 2011.
A state-level exporters' meet will be held in Mangalore in the month of January, he informed, and so also the 17th national youth convention.