- ONGC saves 400-acre Juhu airport from landsharks
- AAI reverses decision to shut down key runway; developers to challenge decision
The decision to consider runway 16/34 — which is the secondary runway that caters to 40 per cent of everyday operations — operational is a setback for about 150 buildings that were granted no objection certificates since May 2011 when an AAI report declared the runway nonoperational.
While construction has started on many of these high-rises, AAI will now review, modify and cancel their NOCs depending on whether the buildings lie on the runway’s flight path. “In a high-level meeting between ONGC chairman and AAI chairman, it was decided that runway 16/34 will remain operational for helicopters,” said Uday Gilli, western region president, Rotary Wing Society of India, an apex body for Helicopter pilots in India. “The NOCs issued to buildings in the approach of this runway will be reviewed, modified and cancelled.”
Wednesday’s decision came after a high-level meeting of the heads of AAI, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and helicopter operators in NewDelhi.Civil aviation ministry sources told Mumbai Mirror that ONGC strongly objected the AAI decision and brought the matter to the notice of the PrimeMinister’s Office. “Today’s decision is a result of ONGC’s pressure,” said a highlyplaced source in the ministry.
Sources present in Wednesday’s meeting said ONGC, which operates over 50 helicopter from Juhu airport, made a presentation to AAI honchos explaining in detail how shutting down runway 16/34 will adversely affect its business in Bombay High, which accounts for 70 per cent of the company’s total production. ONGC accounts for 81 per cent of India’s natural gas production and 77 percent of India’s crude oil supply, which is about 30 per cent of the country’s total demand.
instructions to keep the runway operational. Sources said he also ordered a review of NOCs issued to building projects around the airport and insisted that no building should be allowed to come in the way of helicopter operations.
“This is an existing runway and it will remain operational for helicopter operations. Whatever modifications are required to protect helicopter operations will be made,” said Aggarwal.
The decision hasn’t gone down to well with builders, who said they will challenge the cancellation of NOCs.
“This is nothing short of a disaster,” said Sunil Shah of Ankur Enterprises, which has several projects in the area. “We started construction only after obtaining all necessary permissions from every agency, including AAI. If they withdraw the NOCs now we will be left with no option but to challenge the decision in court. Each and every developer will do everything possible to get the decision revoked.”
Noted architect Udayan Bhat, who has designed many of the projects in question, said many buildings were either complete or nearing completion.
“Most flats have been sold and residents have moved in,”said Bhat.“Allof a sudden if AAI revokes the NOCs, these buildings will become illegal and there will be pandemonium. Moreover, it is not going to be cakewalk for the AAI to revoke NOCs.”
Vijay Thakkar, chairman, Dev Land Housing said the decision was “ridiculous.” “It will lead to lot of litigations,” he said. “AAI should have thought about this before issuing the NOCs.”
The go-ahead for the buildings was given based on a dubious report that was immediately trashed by safety and security experts, who alleged that the decision to shut down the runway was taken with the aim of eventually shutting down Juhu airport.
Courtesy:
Bipin K Singh and Yogesh Sadhwani mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
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