Team Herald
VASCO: Referring to the recent news report by Herald on illegal shanties under flight path posing risk to the aircrafts, the naval authorities on Thursday requested the State administration to keep a regular check and not to allow any illegal shanties under the flight path in future.
The issue was raised during the annual Aerodrome Committee Meeting held at Air traffic control office of Dabolim airport on Thursday. Among other safety and security issues of the airport, the issue of illegal shanties under the flight path (exposed by Herald last week) was raised by the naval authorities. After lengthy discussion, officials of the State administration assured that they would keep a regular check in the area to ensure that no one comes and erects shanties under the flight path.
All the stake holders of the airport including airport operators, officials from Airport Authority of India (AAI), the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF), Mormugao Mahadev Deputy Collector Arundekar, Additional Collector Agnelo Fernandes, DySP Vasco Sunita Sawant and others attended the meeting. The meeting discussed and reviewed preparedness of airport during emergencies like aircraft hijack, fire, bomb or any other security threat.
“Yes the issue of illegal shanties under the flight path which was reported in Herald was also discussed during the meeting and we have assured aerodrome committee that if such thing happens or if anyone tries to put up shanties we will remove the same immediately. We have also assured to keep a regular check in the area to ensure that no one comes and erects shanties under the flight path,” said Deputy Collector Mormugao Mahadev Arundekar.
Meanwhile, the aerodrome committee had a lengthy discussion on various issues related to safety and security issues of the airport. On the issue of availability of fire and emergency service, it was assured to the aerodrome committee that Goa fire and emergency services will respond immediately, besides that fire tenders from MPT, Zuari and GSL will also respond immediately.
Another issue about bomb detection and disposal facility with State administration was raised. It was informed that AAI has got facility to dispose off bomb weighing upto 3 kgs and DySP Sawant told that she would inquire with the department whether they have bomb disposal infrastructure or not though bomb detection facility is available with them. Role of agencies including AAI, police and CISF were also discussed.
“About garbage issue, we have assured the aerodrome committee that we will hold the meeting with secretaries and sarpanchas of Chicalim, Sancoale and Chicolna-Bogmalo panchayat. Similarly, Additional Collector Agnelo Fernandes also assured that another meeting with Deputy Director of Panchayat along with secretaries and sarpanchas will be called and directions will be issued to collect garbage regularly and not to allow bird or dog menace to occur,” Arundekar said.
