Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Thursday that the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has not accepted the State’s proposal to name Belagavi airport after Kittur Rani Chennamma.
Replying to a question by Kavatagimath Mahantesh Mallikarjun, chief whip of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, the Chief Minister said that he is ready to pursue the matter again with the Union government. “I will meet Union Civil Aviation Minister during any of my next visits to Delhi to take up the proposal,” he said.
The reasons for the Centre’s denial were not revealed. Replying to a question by Ayanur Manjunath of the BJP, the Chief Minister said he would call a meeting to discuss issues relating to developing an airport in Shivamogga. He said the State government has released ₹25.96 crore for acquiring land for the project to be taken up under the public-private partnership model. Bids would be invited to develop a no-frill (small) airport, the Chief Minister said.
