'Private helipads a security concern'

Corporators from the civic improvements committee have unanimously rejected the proposal to allow private helipads on rooftops of city buildings.

Corporators from the civic improvements committee have unanimously rejected the proposal to allow private helipads on rooftops of city buildings.

HT Image

Bharatiya Janata Party member Manoj Kotak said, “The state is clearly working with the interests of only the industrialists in mind. It has sent us a proposal without having either any security concerns in mind, or even any concerns about the noise pollution that recurring landings would cause.”

Many corporators even raised concerns about security and safety. Congress corporator Dharmesh Vyas said, “The Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorjee Khandu had a very unfortunate crash a few days ago even though he probably travelled in the state’s best maintained helicopter. What if a similar incident were to happen in a densely populated city like Mumbai?”

Drawing out an irony about the state of city’s infrastructure, Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar said the civic body’s priorities were misplaced. “The BMC hasn’t been able to provide good roads, nor adequate water. Such a civic body shouldn’t be concentrating on allowing helipads for the rich.”

Activist Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation, who had filed a petition against giving clearance to private helipads on building rooftops, said, “Allowing private rooftop helipads would mean increasing the risk of accidents, security and adverse health effects resulting from the high noise levels around it.”