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Bekal airstrip project remains a pipe dream

[email protected] (expressbuzz)
January 9, 2012

bekal

Bekal, January 9: The proposal for an airstrip that can receive 50-seater aircraft at Bekal in Kasargod, mooted by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) to promote tourism, is likely to turn into a pie in the sky for various reasons.

According to top sources in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, an airstrip is not feasible at Bekal due to the proximity of the land, claimed to have been identified for the project, to the existing Mangalore Bajpe International Airport and forthcoming Kannur International Airport.

The 80-acre land is in Periya village.

“The proposal for an airstrip has to get clearance from the Union Ministries of Home, Defence and Civil Aviation. When Bekal can be reached within two hours from Mangalore or Kannur airports, the chances of getting clearance for the project are highly unlikely. As per the regulations, Civil Aviation Ministry never gives approval for an airport within a radius of 100 miles of another airport,” sources maintained.

More importantly, there are certain security concerns as well. “For an aircraft to land at an airport or airstrip, the facility has to be created from an aerial distance of at least 40 km. For instance, if an airplane has to land at Kozhikode Airport, the facility has to be done from Kozhikode beach if the plane is coming from the Gulf.

The aerial distance from the proposed Bekal airstrip is equi-distant from Mangalore and Kannur airports but only a little over the landing facility. The risks involved will be proportionally higher when the volume of flights taking off and landing increases at Mangalore, Kannur and also at the proposed Bekal airstrip,” officials pointed out.

The whole project mooted four years ago appears to be a claim of bureaucrats to hoodwink the Centre.

Even when the BRDC officials claim that the land acquisition process has begun and the airstrip would be commissioned by 2013, the fact is that the BRDC is yet to enter into a contract with the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to prepare a detailed project report.

“We have received a proposal from the BRDC to prepare a detailed project report for the airstrip. In reply, we have informed the terms and conditions to the BRDC but they are yet to respond,” CIAL DGM Thankachan K P said.

Kasargod Additional District Magistrate Dineshan, who also holds the charge of Land Acquisition Deputy Collector, said the BRDC has not given a request for acquisition of land for the airstrip.

“But,as per a government request, we have recommended 80 acres of land in Periya village, of which 54.12 acre is revenue land and remaining is private land. So far, BRDC has not officially communicated about the land acquisition for the project,” he said.

When contacted, BRDC Manager (Land Acquisition) C Kumaran confirmed that they are yet to ent er into an agreement with CIAL. “As per the terms and conditions of the CIAL, the fee would be remitted and the work for preparing the project report will start soon. The requests for acquiring land for the project and obtaining clearances from the Unions Ministries could be forwarded only after receiving the detailed project report,” he said.


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News Network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, the state's health department issued fresh guidelines for the disposal of bodies of COVID patients.

"Although an increased risk of COVID infection from a dead body to health workers or family members who follow standard precautions while handling the body is unlikely, the lack of scientific data requires the utmost care to avoid the inadvertent spread of COVID-19 during these times," the statement from the health department's press release read, emphasising on the dignity of the dead and the religious and cultural tradition.

The 23-page press release elaborated on guidelines regarding testing, handling of dead bodies and other specificities in relation to the management of COVID-19 bodies.

"Testing should not be insisted in every case of death, but only when they have a recorded history of influenza-like symptoms. The body should be handed over to the family members/ relatives in a dignified manner immediately after swab collection and hospitals should provide handouts with a list of dos and don'ts in English and Kannada laying down relevant information," the statement said.

It added, "At the mortuary, health care workers, mortuary staff and the family of the deceased body shall not come in direct contact with the dead body and must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). If the family or relative are for any reason unable to cremate or bury the body, the local health authority shall arrange for the dignified last rites as per the religious traditions of the family."

Regarding autopsies (post mortem) on COVID-19 bodies, the state department said that they should be avoided, except in necessary circumstances.

The statement also gave detailed guidelines regarding the appropriate recording of COVID-19 deaths in line with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Additionally, the health department made a statement about the admission procedure for COVID positive patients referred by other district administrations saying, "It is now mandatory for all the referrals from the BBMP admission and discharge of COVID positive patients to be done through the online COVID Hospital Bed Management System (CHBMS)."

The state's count of coronavirus cases was 1,51,449 in the past 24 hours.

So far, a total of 2,804 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state, while the average recovery rate in Karnataka is 49.3 per cent.

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News Network
February 29,2020

Mysuru, Feb 29: Tension prevailed at Tandavaput Industrial Area in Nanjangud taluk, Mysuru when a paper factory received a bomb threat call, which later turned out to be a hoax call.

The police said that the authorities of Rajshil Papers received a bomb threat call in the morning. After getting the information, the bomb detection squad rushed to the spot and inspected the factory premises and declared that it was a hoax call.

According to the police, an unidentified person called from his mobile, which is now switched off.

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News Network
February 22,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 22: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said an ideal trade-off needs to be reached between new media -- which is fast and popular -- and traditional media which has developed skills to authenticate a news report, which is a costly operation.

Addressing the fourth edition of ‘the Huddle’ – the annual thought conclave of the Hindu here, he asserted that the internet and social media had democratised journalism and revitalised democracy, but had also led to many anxieties.

While the new media was fast and popular and people could choose what they wanted to watch, hear or read, traditional media would have to introspect on its role in society and find ways to earn the reader’s full trust again as "the project of democracy was incomplete without informed citizens – which means, without unbiased journalism."

Debate and discussion were internalised in India’s social psyche to arrive at truth since time immemorial, he said.

"There is no doubt that perception of truth is conditioned by circumstances. The conditions that cloud the truth’s positions are effectively dispelled by a contestation of ideas through debate, discussion and scientific temper. Prejudices and violence vitiate the search for truth."

Expressing happiness to attend ‘The Huddle’ organised by The Hindu, he said the Hindu group of publications had been relentlessly aiming to capture the essence of this great country through its responsible and ethical journalism. He commended them for their insistence on sticking to the five basic principles of journalism – truth-telling, freedom and independence, justice, humaneness and contributing to the social good, an official release here said.

Mr Kovind said dogmas and personal prejudices distorted the truth. In the 150th year of Gandhiji’s birth, he asked all to ponder over this question: "will it not be proper to pursue truth itself as the ideology? Gandhiji has shown us the path by walking ceaselessly in search of truth which would ultimately encompass every positive attribute that enriches the universe."

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