By P.T. Bopanna
It looks like Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has played a joke on the people of Kodagu (Coorg) by announcing in his budget to develop an airstrip at Madikeri.
In the first place, the topography of Madikeri and its surrounding areas, does not permit the setting up of an airstrip.
Assuming that they want to chop off a hillock to level the place for the airstrip, thousands of trees will have to be chopped. This would only benefit the timber lobby.
Similar to the ‘steel bridge’ project planned by the Siddaramaiah government in Bengaluru, is Madikeri airport intended to please the powerful timber lobby to generate funds for Congress in the next Assembly elections?
Is the chief minister not aware that the Kannur international airport will be operational later this year. The airport at Mattanur in Kerala, is less than an hour from Kodagu.
The chief minister is aware of the fact that the airport in his home city of Mysore is lying idle now due to inadequate passenger traffic. In the circumstances, how can he expect traffic to and from Kodagu?
Instead of playing a joke on the people of Kodagu by announcing the setting up of an airstrip at Madikeri, let the Congress government in Karnataka provide assured drinking water to Madikeri town.
After inflicting the tragedy on the people of Kodagu by celebrating Tipu jayanthi, the chief minister seems have plotted a comedy show at the expense of the people of Kodagu.
