Bekal airstrip project remains a pipe dream

January 9, 2012

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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Embattled tycoon B R Shetty now holds employees responsible for NMC fraud

coastaldigest.com news network

April 30,2020

Newsroom, Apr 30: Beleaguered billionaire B R Shetty, who went into hiding after after a multi-billion fraud at UAE-based NMC Health came to light, has now put the blame on his companies employees.

The former chairman of the Abu Dhabi headquartered hospital operator said, investigations he commissioned found following things:

1. The fraudulent creation and operating of bank accounts in my name including many fraudulent transfers that I neither authorised, consented to, or had any knowledge of.

2. The fraudulent creation of loans, personal guarantees, cheques and bank transfers in my name, and using my forged signature, that I neither authorised, consented to, or had any knowledge of.

3. The creation and set-up of companies in my name that I neither authorised, consented to, or had any knowledge of, and that were seemingly created with the express intention to commit or conceal fraud.

4. The fraudulent creation of powers of attorney, and the misuse of existing powers of attorney, again in my name, that I that I neither authorised, consented to, or had any knowledge of.

5. The creation and provision to me of false and misleading financial statements and information regarding the performance of some of my private companies and investments by members of my own management team.

6. The payments of expenses using my private companies and personal bank accounts, I believe to hide the true financials of the public companies."

This is the first time Dr. Shetty, who is reportedly hiding in India for the last couple of months, issued a statement based on investigations he commissioned privately. He had brought in a consultancy to conduct it after initial revelations came to light that NMC Health had not been fully transparent with its finances.

Dr. Shetty had stepped down as executive chairman after the then Board of Directors barred him from attending any meetings. “I intend to work tirelessly to clear my name and assist any authorities in getting to the truth and help them ensure that misappropriated or missing funds are returned by the perpetrators to their rightful owners,” said Dr. Shetty.

This month, ADCB, which has the highest exposure among UAE banks to NMC Health, brought charges against five former officials, including ex-board of directors, with Abu Dhabi prosecution. The former CEOs of NMC Health and Finablr are also currently not in the UAE.

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Can he explain give few wordd about Daniel Varghese the founder of UAE exchange.

Who is the person shattered his fate .

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Karnataka: 1st PU results soon; SSLC exams when situation becomes normal

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May 4,2020

Bengaluru, May 4: First year Pre-University results of Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education will be released soon.

According to a report, the first year PU result will be released on the registered mobile numbers of students or parents on May 5. The report also asked the colleges which offers PU course that the PU results should not be released on the notice boards.

This measure has been taken keeping in view to avoid gatherings in and around the institutions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Deccan Herald report also said the students who are not able to clear the exams after the PU results are declared will be given a chance to appear for supplementary examinations in college level and further details on this will be shared with the institutes by the department in due course.

"After the declaration of results, colleges can conduct online classes for students who are eligible to attend second year PU classes," the report added.

The state is yet to complete the SSLC (class 10) and PU second year (higher secondary or class 12) examinations as the spread of coronavirus and subsequent lockdown announced by the government has put the whole academic activities out of gear in the state.

Recently, the education minister has said the SSLC examinations in the state will be conducted as it is a "crucial stage in a student's life".

"We will consider it (SSLC examinations) when the situation becomes normal," The New Indian Express quoted the minister as saying.

The Karnataka SSLC exam was scheduled to be held between March 27 and April 9, and over eight lakh students had registered for the exam.

Updates on the date and other decisions regarding PU second year exams are awaited.

Earlier, the school education department had decided to promote class 7 and 8 students without any exams in the wake of lockdown aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

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As Karnataka’s tally crosses 1.12 lakh, Nalin Kateel praises BSY govt’s role in tackling covid

coastaldigest.com news network

July 30,2020

Mandya, July 30: BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel on Wednesday said Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has done a commendable job in tackling the Covid-19 situation and floods and that the question of changing the leadership does not arise.

Karnataka on Wednesday reported 5,503 new cases of Covid-19 and 92 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 1,12,504 and the death toll to 2,147.

Speaking to reporters here, Kateel said, "Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi has gone to Delhi to discuss the projects sanctioned to state with the central minister. There is no need to read too much into it."

Replying to a query on graft charges against the BSY government by the Congress, Kateel said, "Congress national president, state unit president are out on bail in graft cases . Why did a Congress leader who calls himself a bande (rock) has approached court seeking stay on CBI probe? Before making any allegations against the government, they should think about 'irregularities' in Indira Canteen and housing schemes," he charged.

Instead of instilling confidence and hope among the people in these testing times, the Congress is unnecessarily creating fear with petty politics, he told reporters in Shravanabelagola, Hassan district.

"The Yediyurappa-led BJP government is working day and night to tackle the Covid-19. Similarly, several non-governmental organisations have joined hands with the government in the fight against the virus. But, the Congress is only creating confusion by issuing baseless statements," Kateel said.

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