He told reporters here at the weekend during his maiden visit to Dharwad after being sworn in as minister that the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) acquired over 700 acres for the expansion of the Hubli airport while the actual requirement was 600 acres.
The farmers whose lands had been acquired recently alleged that the excess land was being given to the Deshpande Foundation and other organisations and it was against rules. They had sought the lands to be returned to the original owners.
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When the matter was brought to the notice of Santosh Lad, also the minister in-charge of Dharwad district, he said he would find out under what notification the KIADB had acquired the land and if there was legal provision to either allot it to another organisation or return them to the original owners.
On the problems facing the district that need immediate attention, Lad said there was no dearth of funds for providing drinking water and for facilitating the start of sowing operations. He also said, he would discuss with the officials of the health department the steps being taken to prevent the breakout of any epidemic. The district civil hospital and Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences and hospital would be provided with more facilities and the problems faced by these institutes would be addressed soon, he said.
On the slow pace of work on the BRTS between Hubli and Dharwad, he said the process of acquisition of additional land required for widening the roads would be expedited.
Stating that the new government was not against the formation of new taluks, Lad said the BJP government while announcing the formation of 43 new taluks had not made financial provision. "In view of that the new government would re-examine the proposals case by case," he asserted. Alnavar, Annigeri and Hubli-Dharwad city are three new taluks being proposed to be formed in Dharwad district.
Lad was given a rousing reception by Congress workers when he entered the city. He visited Alnavar late in the evening.