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Vertical build-up puzzles Amausi airport bosses
UNBRIDLED CONSTRUCTION activity, especially multi-storeyed buildings, which pose a threat to air-safety, are worrying the Airport authorities. Projects in Sarojini Nagar and Hind Nagar are of particular concern to the authorities.
UNBRIDLED CONSTRUCTION activity, especially multi-storeyed buildings, which pose a threat to air-safety, are worrying the Airport authorities. Projects in Sarojini Nagar and Hind Nagar are of particular concern to the authorities.
Expressing concern over the spurt in development activity, deputy general manager of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has shot off a letter to the district administration and civic authorities drawing their attention towards the threat these structures could prove to air-safety.
“An NOC from the AAI is mandatory for any construction activity undertaken by an individual or an agency within the radius of four-kilometre of the airstrip,” informed an Amausi Airport official requesting anonymity. The condition, which seeks to regulate the height of structures, extends to a radius of 20 kilometre for structures/towers, etc above 35 metres in height. This literally means that no building above ten storeys can come up in the entire city without the compulsory NOC from the AAI.
Apart from height, neon lights being used by some of the newly constructed commercial establishments also cause concern to airport officials as they could not only distract a a pilot’s concentration but also hamper his vision during landing. When contacted, airport director, Ravi Prakash said issues related to safety and security of the airport were brought to the notice of the administration authorities regularly. “We keep writing to them from time to time apprising them about the height restrictions and latest guidelines,” he said. The latest missive in this connection was sent to the district administration, the LDA and LMC authorities on August 28 to ensure compliance of the safety norms and put a check on uncontrolled construction activity in and around the airport.
When contacted, LDA Vice Chairman BB Singh, however, said he was yet to see the letter in question. “But nonetheless, appropriate action would be taken, if anybody has flouted guidelines in the matter,” he said. AAI norms came into existence long time back, it is utter lack of public awareness and official apathy to implementation compounding the problem.
In fact, the issue was taken up seriously only in early 2004 when the then airport director RK Singla had broached the subject with former LDA Vice Chairman Manoj Singh in an effort to get the guidelines incorporated in the city master plan, which was then under preparation.
Sure enough, special emphasis on security was laid down in the city’s Master Plan 2021 nod for which was given by the State Government on April 3, 2005. Not for the airport but for VVIP areas.
Classified as security zones, these high security areas that were put out of the bird’s eye view offered by high-rise buildings included Vidhan Sabha, Raj Bhawan, Chief Minister’s residence, VVIP Guest House, etc. A decision was taken that no building beyond 7 metres in height would be allowed to come up in and around these security zones. It was also decided that a committee would be constituted to stipulate specific construction by laws for these region. The committee is yet to come be formed.
