Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 3: Congress leader Padmaraj R Poojary has hailed the Congress-led Karnataka government for releasing what he described as the largest compensation amount in the last ten years for land acquisition related to Mangaluru International Airport.
In a strong statement, Poojary thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar for directing officials to ensure that maximum compensation is paid to those losing land for the runway expansion project. A total of 32.97 acres has been earmarked for acquisition under the proposal.
“This is a historic move. The Congress government has paid what no previous administration did in a decade. I personally brought this issue to the attention of the CM and Deputy CM to ensure that land losers are treated fairly,” said Poojary.
He credited the breakthrough to the collective pressure applied by Speaker U T Khader, district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLA Ashok Rai, and MLCs Ivan D’Souza and Manjanath Bhandary, all of whom lobbied consistently on behalf of affected families.
Despite the airport operating under private ownership, Poojary noted that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had previously insisted on acquiring land free of cost. However, the state government rejected this approach and stood firmly in favour of local landowners.
“For the first time ever, the state government has agreed to pay compensation, even though the airport is privately operated. This shows the Congress-led government’s commitment to a transparent, accountable, and people-first acquisition process,” Poojary stated.
He also criticised the previous stance of the Union government: “The BJP-led Centre had demanded land without compensation. But the Congress government has made it clear that the rights of the people cannot be ignored. This is proof that our government stands with the people—always.”
According to Poojary, this development reflects the Congress party’s broader pro-people approach and its resolve to prioritise the interests of citizens, especially when it comes to land and livelihood.