Fund-starved govt has enough to construct heliport for Badals; On a fast track, the project, planned near Badal village, has already got all clearances

Fund-starved govt has enough to construct heliport for Badals 
On a fast track, the project, planned near Badal village, has already got all clearancesArchit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 19
The fund-starved Punjab Government, which has been finding it difficult to pay salaries to its employees, is all set to construct a heliport at Mann village, adjoining Badal village, in the district. The heliport, to come up over 20-25 acres, will facilitate easy landing and flying of helicopters of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.
Sukhbir, who holds the portfolio of civil aviation, has already given a go-ahead to the project and desired an immediate action in this regard. There is already a helipad for the Badals at Kaljharani village, 5 km from Badal village, in Bathinda district. After landing at Kaljharani, the VVIPs have to travel by road to reach Badal village.
Sources said the Defence Ministry and Air Force authorities have also given no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the proposed heliport, but with some conditions.
These include: Only visual flight rules shall be undertaken, vertical extent shall not exceed 650 m above the sea level, all flights will operate in coordination with the Bhisiana Air Force station and no separate airspace shall be earmarked for the heliport.
Going through the departmental communiqués, it has been learnt that the project, moved by Capt Abhey Chandra, Adviser, Civil Aviation, Punjab, was issued the NOC on August 28 for the next five years by AS Chaudhary, Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence. Similarly, Ankur Moudgil, Wing Commodore, issued an NOC on behalf of the Air Force.
Even the state departments like Town and Country Planning, Forest, Water Supply and Sanitation, Power, Canal, PWD (B&R), Agriculture, Mandi Board and District Development, all have issued NOCs for the proposed heliport.
The Revenue Department has also prepared satellite maps of suitable locations of nearly 125 acres along with land records so that it could be acquired at the earliest. Recently, a meeting of senior officials of the departments concerned was held where the project was discussed at length.
Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh said: “The heliport is proposed to be built at Mann village. But I am not aware of its purpose”. Talking over the phone, Capt Abhey Chandra said: “We have been told to obtain NOCs from all the departments concerned and the process has started. The heliport will facilitate VVIPs, but the public can also avail of the facility after getting permission from the Deputy Commissioner”.

Courtesy: The Tribune