CHITRADURGA: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation G M Siddeshwara on Saturday promised of setting up an airstrip in Davangere, if the state government is ready to provide land.
He told reporters at Hireguntanuru village of the district that the project which had taken shape during the regime of B S Yeddyurappa, was stalled due to the non-cooperation of farmers. It was earlier proposed to set up an airstrip at Anagodu village in Davangere in an area of 1,300 acres.
He also said his ministry will help the state with funds to set up the airstrip, if the required land is handed over to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which looks after setting up of airports and airstrips in the country.
Setting up of an airstrip in Davangere will not only help the public, but also help farmers to earn higher income on cultivating commercial crops that can be exported to foreign countries, he added.
On Tumkur-Davangere railway line, he said a direct railway line from Davangere to Tumkur will be a reality in five years. He said steps will be taken for the speedy implementation of the project.
With D V Sadananda Gowda being the Railway Minister, the work will be accelerated, he added. In addition, all the pending railway projects of the state will be taken up on a priority basis, he said.
Siddeshwara told Express that an honest attempt will be made to bring water from Shanthi Sagar to Bheemasamudra tank. If the project gets completed, a majority of the drinking water problems as well as the water required for irrigation purposes will get resolved.
He said a mini-barrage will be put on the river Tungabhadra at Sasivehalli village in Davangere district, from which 3 tmcft of water will be pumped into the Shanthi Sagara tank, through which Bheemasamudra tank in Chitradurga district will get water. However, the state government and local elected representatives should join hands for the success of the project, he added.