MYSORE, May 24 (The Hindu): Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday said that safety aspects would be given utmost priority in the construction of greenfield airports in Shimoga and Gulbarga, and that the State would coordinate with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in this regard.

“In view of the Mangalore air crash, the State will extend all support to the agencies concerned for putting in place safety mechanisms in the proposed airports,” Yeddyurappa told presspersons here after participating in a function at the Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashram.

Although the commercial operation of flights is yet to begin at the newly-opened airport at Mandakalli, which is about nine km from the city, Yeddyurappa said he would ask the district administration to look into the need for additional land for expansion of the existing runway so that bigger aircraft could land. Smaller aircraft such as ATR can, at present, operate on the existing runway.

The Chief Minister said the State Government had extended full cooperation to agencies investigating the air disaster and had requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take all measures to prevent recurrence of such tragedies. The district administration had been asked to coordinate with the authorities, he said.

Asked whether it was appropriate to hold the convention of organic farmers at Koodala Sangama, Yeddyurappa said the meet was being held only for the welfare of farmers. “There is nothing wrong in holding a convention that helps farmers,” he said. He ruled out a Cabinet reshuffle and expansion as he was busy ensuring the success of the Global Investors' Meet in Bangalore.

“Our focus is on the investors' meet and nothing else,” he said. When his attention was drawn to the remarks made against him and his party legislators by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, on the issue of rehabilitation of flood-affected people in north Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said, “I did not expect such remarks from Kumaraswamy. I, however, need not respond to him as the people of this State will give him a befitting reply”.

The Chief Minister admitted that there was a delay in rehabilitation work, but attributed it to non-availability of land. “Although we have set aside enough funds for rehabilitation of flood victims, we need 4,000 acres of land for developing layouts for them,” he said.