Land acquisition for Dharmasthala Mini Airport hits a snag!

Dharmasthala: Land acquisition is posing a problem for the proposed mini airport (airstrip) at Dharmasthala, which is meant to boost tourism. A minimum of 140 acres of land is required to construct the mini-airport.

However, after reviewing the land in Kalmanja and Laila villages in Belthangady taluk, identified by the district administration, the technical team of the Infrastructure Development Corporation has concluded that these areas are unsuitable for the project. Furthermore, the available land does not meet the requirements for building a mini airport.

Officials from various departments, including Revenue, Pollution Control, Geology, Survey, and the Forest Department, have already inspected the land. Authorities from the Ministry of Civil Aviation have also conducted a review. Reportedly the area is characterized by uneven terrain and the presence of acacia and nettle trees, which are under the control of the Forest Department.

Quest for Alternative Land

Following the instructions from the Managing Director of the Infrastructure Development Department, the district administration is actively looking for alternative sites for the mini airport.

Speaking to Udayavani, Dakshina Kannada’s Additional Deputy Commissioner, Santosh Kumar said, “The technical team from the Ministry of Civil Aviation has reported that the currently identified land is unsuitable. We are in the process of evaluating alternative locations, but nothing has been finalized yet.”

Mini Airport to boost Tourism and Emergency Services

In 2022, V. Somanna, the then Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Development, emphasized the importance of establishing a mini airport in Belthangady taluk, stating that it would provide “essential infrastructure for landing small aircraft”, such as ATRs, 12-seater planes, and four helicopters. This facility would serve both tourism promotion and emergency response purposes. The district administration had already begun the land acquisition process.

Progress on Other Airstrips

As part of the 2023-24 state budget, the government has announced plans to develop new airstrips in Dharmasthala, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru to boost tourism and assist with disaster management. Among these, the land acquisition process for Chikkamagaluru is still in its initial stages, while the land for the Kodagu airstrip near Kushalanagar has already been identified and is under technical evaluation.

Alternative Site Review Ongoing

“The search for an alternative site for Dharmasthala’s mini airport is ongoing, with further evaluations being conducted,” said Mullai Muhilan, Dakshina Kannada District Commissioner.