Land issues dog Belagavi airport

BELAGAVI: The Airport Authority of India (AAI), which is unable to take up development works at the airport here due to unavailability of land, is pushing the district administration to hand over land as per its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government.
As per the MoU, the state government should give 370 acres to AAI but only 344 acres have been handed over.Some of the land allocated to AAI is still under litigation and AAI authorities are struggling in dealing with these litigations.
The Belagavi airport was upgraded three years ago to facilitate operations of bigger flights. For big aircraft like Airbus, CAT-1 lights play a key role. According to airport director Rajesh Kumar Maurya, due to unavailability of land, four CAT-1 lights are outside the compound of the airport.
“They need to be inside the premises and they are costly equipment. The district administration should handover 16.4 guntas for CAT-1 lights on priority,” he said.
AAI has not taken been able to take six acres allocated to it on the south of the airport as the land is part of a graveyard meant for Sambra villagers. The district administration was supposed to provide an alternative piece of land for the graveyard, but it has not done so.
A road between Mavinkatti and Honyal villages passes right through the airport compound and AAI wants the administration to build a road outside its compound. The existing road cannot be blocked as it is the main connecting road for both the villages.
Airport authorities are also demanding land towards Kudachi as per the MoU. Airport director Maurya said it would be easier to improve the airport if the state government provides land that is not under litigation.
When contacted deputy commissioner S B Bommanhalli said the issue of allotting land to AAI would be resolved on priority.