Karnataka government has proposed to develop airstrips in Dharmasthala, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru with the intention of “promoting tourism, industrial sector and support disaster management measures.”
However, with existing opposition to similar measures that included a railway line to Kodagu’s Kushalnagar, the new move is being questioned by ecologists. T.V. Ramachandra from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, said air connectivity helps, but not when it means disturbing ecologically fragile regions such as Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Chikkamagaluru. “There are already airports in Mangaluru and Kannur. These are fragile regions and the damage is already done to these places. What we need is a carrying capacity study by a competent authority in these regions,” he said.
Other measures proposed to reduce disaster risks and strengthen fire and emergency services include works worth ₹721 crore from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) such as flood control in Bengaluru, and landslide risk mitigation in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada and Hassan districts.
