Jagadish Shettar, former Chief Minister and recently elected MP of Belgaum, expressed his commitment to enhancing Belgaum Airport into an international facility during a media interaction on Thursday. Responding to inquiries about a previous proposal by the BJP state government to establish an international airport at Kittur, located between Belgaum and Dharwad, Shettar clarified that there is no definitive plan for such a project. He suggested focusing efforts on upgrading Belgaum Airport to serve as an international hub instead.
Additionally, Shettar mentioned plans to meet with the Civil Aviation Minister and officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) soon to discuss the issue. “I will also work towards increasing connectivity of Belgaum airport with more cities. To achieve this, I will hold discussions with various airline companies,” he stated. Shettar also indicated that he intends to convene a meeting with the office bearers of the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) as well as intellectuals from the city to gather their input for preparing a vision document aimed at the development of Belgaum.
In the meantime, Shettar outlined his strategy for advancing Belgaum’s development. The newly elected MP emphasized his priority on addressing unfinished projects, particularly focusing on the Belgaum-Kittur-Dharwad new railway line. He mentioned ongoing challenges with land acquisition for the project, which are entangled in legal and technical complexities at two specific locations. Shettar aims to resolve these issues and also enhance the number of trains serving Belgaum. He expressed his vision to integrate Hubballi, Dharwad, and Belgaum into a cohesive trio of cities.
Regarding industries, Shettar expressed his intention to attract additional industries, particularly IT sectors, to Belgaum city and establish textile parks and similar industries in rural areas. He highlighted the Special Investment Regions Act initiated by the central government, which incentivizes industrial development in underdeveloped regions through concessions. Gujarat has already implemented this act successfully. Shettar emphasized that if Karnataka issues a notification for this act, it could facilitate the establishment of more industries. He affirmed his commitment to pursue this objective.
The former Chief Minister stated, “In the upcoming days, you will witness a new approach from me. I have ambitious plans for Belgaum’s development and seek cooperation from the people. Belgaum is known as the second capital of the state, and I aim to maintain that status. My goal is to elevate Belgaum to a prominent position within the state. I am committed to working towards this objective. If necessary, I will personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite pending projects. Additionally, I have good relations with several ministers in the central government, and I will leverage these relationships to ensure progress.”
Regarding the 700 acres of revenue land currently held by the defence department even after the lease period has expired, Shettar expressed his intention to hold discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. His aim is to negotiate the return of this land to the state. This land, located near the city, is ideally suited for developing IT industries. Shettar also mentioned the possibility of proposing to the central government to provide alternative land in exchange for this particular case.
Jagadish Shettar mentioned that the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal has allocated 13 tmcft of water to Karnataka. He emphasized that it is the state’s entitlement to utilize this water. To proceed with the project, Karnataka needs approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the National Board for Wildlife (NBW). Shettar stated his intention to communicate with the central minister responsible for these matters and engage with the NBW head. He also expressed readiness to engage with the Chief Minister of Goa if necessary to resolve the issue.
