Karnataka HC Dismisses PIL For Greenfield Airport At Bhatkal Town, Under Udan Scheme

The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking direction to the State government to submit a proposal to Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeking nod for constructing a greenfield airport in Bhatkal town, under the Udan Scheme.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice H T Narendra Prasad dismissing the petition filed by one Sanjay Revankar, a resident of Karwar said

"Whether airport should be constructed in an area, involves a policy decision. Experts in the field can decide the feasibility of having such an airport. Several factors have to be considered apart from technical viability. It is not the job of a writ court to decide on whether airports can come at a certain place."

Revankar had claimed that an airport in Bhatkal will help develop tourism in the surrounding areas. As it has got a lot of green cover but no railway connectivity is possible. Considering the potential of the area it offers for promoting tourism, state should seek approval for a greenfield airport. To which the bench observed "If the area has green cover then it would not be in the interest of environment to have an airport."

The bench said policy decision has to be take by the government and accordingly dismissed the petition.