Veerappa Moily speaks on river diversion, MSEZ, UPCL issues

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 20, 2011:  Addressing reporters at a Meet the Press event held on Nov 20 Sunday, Veerappa Moily, the union corporate affairs minister, said that the local airport will be raised to the status of international airport before concluding its diamond jubilee on Dec 21. He said that the status only needs to be officially announced and that this will be done in the near future.
Industries and Power 

Speaking about MSEZ, he said that Rs. 46,000 crore has already been invested in this company and that 80 percent of the farmers have also agreed to give up their land for the second phase. He said that MSEZ will generate 2 lakh jobs owing to which the state government needs to take it seriously.

 

 

Stating that, although UPCL is ready to transmit 1,500 MW of power, this is not possible owing to lack of transmission lines. He urged the state government to take action on this because it can solve power problems with the state. He said that he has already spoken to DVS and urged him to give top priority to this issue. 

Informing that Rs. 6000 crore has been released under the Rajiv Gandhi Electricity Project all over the country, he said that DK gets Rs. 60 crore of this. 

Road Widening 

Regarding various road widening, construction, and repair projects throughout Karnataka, he said that the Kundapur to Suratkal to Talapady project has reached its final stages and that permission has already been granted for the widening of the Mangalore to Hasan road. He said that a survey regarding the Mangalore to Hasan road widening project will be taken on Nov 25 Friday. 

He also said that the centre has released Rs. 5 crore for the repair of the Shiradi Ghat stretch and that the state government will release the required funds to convert it into a four-lane road. These funds will be later reimbursed by the centre, he added. 

Rs. 175 crore will be spent on the Teerthahalli to Augumbe to Udupi road, he said and added that work will commence only after the state government submits a report on this project. 

Anti Communal Violence Bill 

Speaking about the anti communal violence bill, he said that it was prepared in 2005 and that communal violence as it is seen today was not expected when the Constitution was drawn up, owing to which a bill becomes necessary. He said that the opinions of the BJP and related parties will be considered, but the bill will be passed soon to protect national security. 

River Diversion Project 

Clarifying points regarding the Nethravathi River diversion project, he said that this is not about diverting the river, but only about pumping drinking water from Ettinahole and supplying it to Kolar and Chikballapur. 

The minister also announced the 17th National Youth Convention and a state-level exporters’ meet, which will be held in Mangalore in January.