The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : MSIL seeks land at new airport

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Saturday, Jun 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

MSIL seeks land at new airport

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Minister for Large and Medium Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu on Friday requested Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to allot 25 acres at Bangalore International Airport for a warehouse and other facilities to be set up by Mysore Sales International Ltd. (MSIL).

Speaking to presspersons after handing over a cheque for Rs. 50 lakh to Mr. Kumaraswamy towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the Minister said the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board had decided to allot 7.5 acres at the airport to MSIL. That would not be sufficient for the company to handle the projected cargo demand and for its other activities.

Mr. Naidu the MSIL request would go before the Cabinet for approval. MSIL Managing Director Meera Saxena, who accompanied the Minister, said the cost of one acre has been fixed at Rs. 3 crore, which the company could not afford to pay.

Mr. Naidu said that under the public-private partnership agreement signed with Bangalore International Airport Ltd., the cargo handling work had been bagged by Bobba and Co., Mumbai, depriving the MSIL of cargo handling. Half of the cargo transported by Air India was from Karnataka and, hence, MSIL should be allowed to handle it.

But, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel had rejected the request saying that the MSIL could also participate in the national bid for cargo handling, which it would do.

The Minister said that the KIADB had decided to give 8,500 sq. ft to farmers for every acre of land acquired from them. The land could use it for residential, commercial or industrial purposes.

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