Govt to acquire farmlands for airport: Patil

Kolhapur, May 2: Kolhapur Guardian Minister Harshyardhan Patil today said the Maharashtra government would acquire the farmers' land for the development of airport at Ujalaiwadi by paying the market price.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Patil said the city after Mumbai and Pune has been making strides in industrial development.

Considering this, the government had decided to complete works, such as night landing facility and others, on a priority basis at the airport.

The government had acquired 72 hectares of land and it needed about 239 hectares more of land to develop the airport, he said adding, efforts were on to hand this airport, which is under the supervision of State Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), to Airports Authority of India on lease.

To a query, Mr Patil said the state government would seek Rs 35 crore as assistance from the Union government for cleaning the polluted Panchaganga river.

Earlier, Mr Patil was the chief guest at a function held to mark the 48th Maharashtra Day at the Shahu stadium here.

On the occasion, sportspersons Snehankita Varute, Pradeep Patil, Shripal Jade and Deepak Patil were presented with District Sports award at the hands of the Minister for their outstanding contribution to the field.

Agitating Kalammawadi irrigation project-affected people celebrated Maharashtra Day by hoisting flag in front of the collectorate here. They are protesting for proper rehabilitation by squatting in front of the collectorate. Their agitation entered in the seventh day today.

UNI