Nagpur airport: 60 buildings violate height norms, demolition stuck in red tape

Time of India

2 days ago

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Nagpur: Mihan India Limited (MIL) has over a year ago sent notices to 60 buildings with height norm violations that 'obstruct' flights taking off from the current runway. A final resolution of the problem, though, remains mired in long bureaucratic procedures.
Multiple agencies are involved before a part of any building that exceeds the stipulated height can be demolished. This delays the decision-making process, said sources.
Until 2015, Airports Authority of India (AAI) determined a building's height according to the distance and issued a no-objection certificate (NOC). However, it is Mihan India Limited (MIL) — the airport operator — that issues notices for any violation to the builder.
After that, the final decision lies with a third agency — the Directorate General of Aviation Safety (DGCA).
According to the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstruction Rules), only the DGCA has the power to order a demolition. MIL, as a state govt agency, cannot proceed by itself, a source explained.
In Nagpur, there were 68 buildings that MIL found to be violating the AAI's height norms. This was a mix of buildings with additional floors or even a structure on the terrace, which takes its height beyond the limit.
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In some cases, installing a rooftop solar power panel also led to exceeding the height.
All the buildings were from the pre-2015 era, said sources, and were largely located in Jaitala. MIL conducted its own exercise to confirm that the height norms were indeed violated and informed the DGCA, said a source.
The DGCA has its own system of sending notices and also giving the builders a final chance to be heard. A hearing was held in Nagpur over eight months ago.
Orders for demolition of parts of eight buildings were issued and even complied with. However, no decision has been taken for as many as 60 structures.
The DGCA can even order a fresh survey to determine the distance from the airport and the height. However, there have been no orders for that too, a source said. These 60 buildings come in the way of the runway. If the entire airport premises and the proposed second runway are considered, 161 buildings have exceeded the height and notices have been sent.
According to a RTI reply, 22 such obstructions have been removed. Out of these, eight were in the landing and take off path of aircraft.
The MIL is now waiting for a decision by the DGCA. In case a demolition has to take place, the DGCA has to carry it out through the highest govt authority in the district. This can be the collector, divisional commissioner, or even the municipal commissioner, said a source.
The system has been streamlined after 2015, reducing the scope of violations, said a source. Applications now have to be made through the No-Objection Certificate Application System (NOCAS) — an online mechanism of AAI. The MIL is also part of the process and can recommend rejection of NOC if it finds that incorrect coordinates are given to determine the distance, a source said.
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