The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Three airstrips to be set up soon: Minister

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011
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Three airstrips to be set up soon: Minister

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Minister for Excise and Ports K. Babu has said that taking the State to the forefront in aviation is one of the main targets of the UDF government.

Talking at a reception accorded to him at the Chavara Culture Centre here on Monday, Mr. Babu said that the government has plans to set up airstrips on an experimental basis initially at Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, and Munnar.

The minister said that private participation will be encouraged with the aim of improving the infrastructure in the aviation sector.

Mr. Babu said that a high-level meeting will be held shortly to seriously consider these issues.

Hibi Eden, MLA, was also accorded a reception at the function. Actor Charuhasan inaugurated a seminar on tourism. Mr. Babu distributed certificates to students of the IATA/UFTAA Foundation Diploma Course.

Earlier, speaking at a reception organised at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies here, Mr. Babu urged the scientific community to probe the reasons for the decline of fish wealth in the water bodies of the State.

He said that the dwindling catch was affecting the livelihood of fishermen of the State.

There were also reports of fall in catch from Vembanad Lake and pollution can be one of the factors affecting the fish wealth, he said.

Hundreds of houseboats are operating in the Lake which are dumping the waste into the water body.

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