The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to speed up the construction of a greenfield airport in Hassan in the interest of the district’s farmers. He was speaking at a programme laying the foundation stone for various works at Shravanabelgola.
“I am not asking for the airport to fly to Bengaluru from Hassan. The airport is required to export fruits and vegetables grown in the district,” he said.
Hassan farmers grow gherkin, a variety of cucumber, in a large quantities. In a year, gherkin worth over ₹50 crore is exported. “If the airport is constructed in Hassan, fruits and vegetables can be packed by evening and exported to other countries so that the people in those countries get fresh vegetables by the next morning. Every day, more than 7 lakh litres of milk is produced in Hassan. We can export milk also to other countries,” he said.
The airport project was sanctioned by the State government in 2007 and Mr. Gowda had laid the foundation stone. The government has acquired 536 acres near Boovanahalli on the outskirts of the city for this.
