PIL seeks NOCs for old buildings near airport

A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay high court has sought no-objection certificates (NOCs) for some buildings close to the threshold of the airport’s runways that were not given NOCs earlier, because they were perceived to be obstacles for planes. The PIL has has sought that these buildings now be given NOCs for construction and maintenance after laws were changed, thus removing the threat perception these buildings posed.

The PIL was filed by M.R. Chhannam, a retired deputy general manager, operations, western region, Airports Authority of India. Talking to The Asian Age, Mr Chhannam said NOC for height clearance of the building started from around 1985 and prior to 1985, the buildings were constructed as per the norms of the BMC. After that till 2011, buildings were following the survey process of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

In 2012, after a survey conducted by an international aviation safety body revealed that due to the obstacles of permanent nature which are not likely to be removed, the runway length should be decreased.

As the runway length was decreased, the civil aviation authority also decided that buildings can get two per cent more height permission of the runway displaced threshold.

At the Mumbai airport, there are two runways and four approach surfaces so that planes can take off from all four directions.

Mr Chhannam said after the 2012 decision, while new buildings have been issued NOCs, old buildings in the approach surface are not being issued the same.