Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 4: Karnataka Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza has strongly urged the Adani Group, operator of Mangaluru International Airport, to ensure fair compensation, employment opportunities, and housing facilities for landowners who will lose their land due to the proposed 150-metre runway extension.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has approached the state government seeking 32.97 acres of land for the expansion project. However, since the state government receives no revenue share from the airport, it has directed the AAI and the private operator, Adani, to fully bear the land acquisition costs.
“The affected landowners must be given justice,” said D’Souza. “They are giving up their property for public infrastructure. The least the company can do is provide adequate compensation, employment, and resettlement facilities. The responsibility lies with Adani,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Mangaluru City Corporation, D’Souza revealed that he had raised this issue in the Legislative Council, to which the government had responded, stating that a formal request had indeed been received from the airport authority regarding the expansion.
He further criticised the lack of essential infrastructure at Mangaluru’s international airport, which, despite being the second largest in Karnataka, suffers from insufficient runway lighting and operational limitations.
“When weather conditions worsen, flights cannot land safely. Larger aircraft like Boeings are unable to use this airport. The airport authority and Adani Group must address these shortcomings urgently,” he said.
D’Souza also reiterated his long-standing demand for the establishment of a new airport to overcome the challenges of operating from the current table-top runway. He suggested locations like Padubidri or Palimar, where government-owned land is available.
“A new airport would benefit both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. MPs from both districts should now press the Central Government to take this proposal seriously,” he urged.
Kudubi community moves a step closer to ST status
D’Souza also welcomed the state government’s decision to approve the inclusion of the Kudubi community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. The community, spread across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shivamogga, has long sought recognition as a tribal group.
“The Backward Classes Welfare Department has now given clearance to shift the Kudubi community from Category-I to the ST list. It is now up to the Central Government to take it forward. Our MP Brijesh Chowta must push hard for this in Parliament,” said D’Souza.
The process for ST inclusion began back in 2015 when the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (Mysuru) commissioned a detailed ethnographic study through the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC). The findings, submitted to the government in 2021, recommended that the Kudubi community be granted ST status —a recommendation that the state has now officially supported.