By P.T. Bopanna
Instead of rebuilding the pathetic roads in Kodagu (Coorg) district, Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda wants to build a mini airport near Madikeri town.
It is time the two MLAs from Kodagu, Mantar Gowda and Virajpet MLA Ponnanna A.S., both belonging to Congress, should work on a priority basis to improve the roads and power supply situation in the district.
Maybe, Mantar Gowda, who hails from Hassan district, is not aware that Madikeri town is prone to landslides. Landslides were reported across Madikeri town during the 2018 landslides. Any move to set up an airport in Kodagu is a recipe for an environmental disaster.
Mantar Gowda has been quoted as saying: “I’m glad to share that the State Government is preparing to establish a mini airport in Kodagu, with groundwork already in progress to identify and develop suitable land near Madikeri.”
When the need of the hour is a good network of roads in Kodagu, the government is coming out with projects which are not required in the flood-prone district. This is nothing but criminal negligence on the part of government agencies.
The Mattanur airport in Kerala could easily cater to the requirements of Kodagu. Besides, there is already a functioning airport at Mysuru.
In the past, former Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan had mooted the idea of an airport at Kudige when he was a minister in 2012. Subsequently, the Siddaramaiah government had announced plans in the 2017 budget for an airport in Kodagu. In a ‘copy paste’ job, Siddaramaiah had included the airport project in the 2023 budget!
