Naval authorities to control development within 20-km radius of Dabolim airport

PANJIM: In a move which could bring the entire development process in South Goa and part of North Goa to a standstill, the South Goa Collector has issued a circular which requires clearance from the Naval authorities for height clearance within a radius of 20km of the airport.

Yes, you read it right. If the circular of South Goa Collector Dr Tariq Thomas is to be implemented in full, any development in South Goa has to get a clearance from INS Hansa. The Navy has to issue an NOC even for the conversion sanad of any land.

The circular was issued by the South Goa Collector on November 11, 2018, copy  of which is in possession of Herald titled, “Regulation Of Development around Dabolim airport in light of Ministry of Civil Aviation (height restrictions for safeguarding of aircraft operations) Rules 2015. Copies have been sent to Additional Collector-I South District, Additional Collector-II South District, Additional Collector-III, Ponda, Deputy Collector & SDO Mormugao, Conversion Cell of Collectorate and the Flag Officer  Commanding (for staff officer ‘Aviation’ with request to submit details of nodal officer/office and also to put in place the mechanism for expeditious issuance of NOC).

“With reference to the above cited subject attention is invited to the gazette notification GSR 75 (E) dated 30th September 2015 issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation vide which Ministry of Civil Aviation (Height restrictions for safeguarding of aircraft operations) Rules 2015 was notified,” says the circular.

Further it says, Rules 4 places restrictions on constructions/erections within a radius not exceeding from the aerodromes reference point of civil and defence aerodromes without obtaining No Objection Certificate for height clearance except where the colour-coded zoning map has already been published or notified.

“Rule 7 of the said rules makes it incumbent upon the local municipal, Town Planning and Development Authorities to ensure that NOC is obtained in each case from the aerodrome authorities unless the colour-coded maps are available in which case they need to restrict their permission as per the colour- coded zoning maps,” it says.

The Collector notes that in respect to the Dabolim airport, which is a defence airport, “it is to be noted that haphazard development is taking place around the airport due to absence of clarity with respect to the colour-coded maps and non adherence of local authority/municipality to ensure that restrictions are adhered to.”

The circular states that the collector has already held meetings with MPDA and necessary correspondence has been initiated with Director of Municipal Administration, Director of Panchayat and Chief Town Planner.

“In order to ensure safety and as a measure of enforcement since in the long run the responsibility of renewal/demotion of any authorised structure will fall upon this office, it is necessary as an initial step for all the areas/ villages in Mormugao taluka in the event that conversion cases are to be considered, NOC from the Naval Authorities is to be obtained and any condition given by the naval authorities are to be incorporated in the sanad,” the circular reads.

The letter further says that when forwarding the letter for NOC to the naval authorities one copy of the entire set of application is to be enclosed to the Commanding Officer (for Capt Air), INS Hansa, Dabolim Goa, 403802.

“The Conversion Cell to work out the 20km radius from the Dabolim Airport and to identify which all villages/area falls within the zone. The above set of instructions to be made applicable to pending application as well as for any new application until further orders,” the circular reads.

Now while the NOCs have been made compulsory, the Collector itself does not have the colour-coded maps and has asked the Naval authorities to make them available. “It is also requested that colour coded maps may be made available to this office at the earliest,” the circular requests the Flag officer, Commanding, INS Hansa.