*No focus even on changing of flying routes
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 25: Notwithstanding the fact that helicopters operating from holy town of Katra have been generating unbearable volume of noise pollution and flouting the Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation) Rules of 2000, the recommendations of a Committee of J&K Legislature regarding shifting of helipad to uninhabited area and changing of flying routes have been gathering dust in the official files during the past nearly two years.
The shifting of helipad from Serli area of the holy town to a suitable and uninhabited area along the Katra-Reasi road was also suggested on the ground that this would ensure proper safety of the helicopters particularly from the bird hit point of view.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on October 1, 2013, the Committee of Petitions of Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly received a petition regarding unbearable volume of noise pollution being generated due to continuous operation of helicopters from Serli (Katra) helipad. It was submitted before the Committee of Petitions comprising 11 Legislators that the life of the inhabitants of the Serli and adjoining areas had become miserable especially that of school going children due to enormously increased noise pollution.
The Committee of Petitions held several meetings with all the stakeholders including Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, Reasi District Administration, Police authorities, Pollution Control Board and Civil Aviation Department of J&K Government to go deep into genesis of the problem and after detailed exercise arrived at conclusion that shifting of helipad from Serli to a suitable and uninhabited area along Katra-Reasi road would be the most suitable option to provide respite to the people from unbearable noise pollution as well as to ensure safety of the helicopters.
It was admitted by the stakeholders that there was need to take seriously the environmental aspects by all the concerned departments especially the noise pollution which as per the health standards was detrimental for the general masses, sources said. Moreover, they felt the need of long term and short term measures to contain the nuisance.
The Committee on Petitions was apprised that regular operations generate 100 dB of noise pollution at the time of take off and 120 dB at landing which should not normally exceed 45-55 dB as per the Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation) Rules of 2000, sources said, adding the Committee was also apprised by the concerned authorities that initially only 50 to 75 sorties on an average were being taken daily by the aviation companies but with the influx of tourists the number of sorties increased sharply to over 200 sorties per day.
Keeping all these aspects in mind, the Committee on Petitions had recommended shifting of helipad to suitable location along Katra-Reasi road so as to provide respite to the people from noise pollution as also to ensure more safety of the helicopters as flying from and over inhabited areas was fraught with the risk of bird hit, sources said while disclosing that even the Shrine Board had put enough weight behind the recommendations of the Committee on Petitions by mentioning that one helipad having huge capacity, space and with all modern facilities would be better choice for the purpose.
Till the identification of suitable land, the Committee on Petitions had recommended change in the flying routes of the helicopters as a short term measure to minimize the inconvenience being caused to the people. It had also observed with anguish that Pollution Control Board was not consulted by the Central authorities before giving nod to start flying operation from Serli helipad.
However, the recommendations of the Committee on Petitions have been gathering dust in the official files during the past nearly two years and unbearable noise pollution continue to make life of the people miserable, sources said, adding “what to talk of shifting the helipad even changing of flying routes has not been taken seriously by the concerned authorities”.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, Ajeet Kumar Sahu said, “the Board is committed to shift the helipad from its present location and suitable land in Hat Panchayat has been identified for new helipad”, adding “even the Director General Civil Aviation has in-principle agreed to this land but other formalities would be completed only when the State Government provides land to the Shrine Board”.
According to the sources privy to the developments with regard to site for new helipad, the land acquisition proceedings were at advanced stage and compensation will be provided to the land owners as and when the Shrine Board releases the funds.
“Keeping in view the recent crash, all the concerned agencies must gear up their activities to give practical shape to the recommendations of the Committee on Petitions as the same would ensure safety of the helicopters as well as provide respite to the people from noise pollution”, sources stressed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel