Bekal airstrip project remains a pipe dream

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.

“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.