Airport boundary breached daily by filth bombs

Ahmedabad: The boundary wall of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is facing a security threat from the residents of the surrounding area. Parts of the two-km-long wall damaged by the residents of Kubernagar are repaired by the airport authorities every day, only to be damaged again by night. In addition, this issue has become a bone of contention between the state police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Some residents of Kubernagar have for the past two years been frequently breaking parts of the airport wall, mostly for personal use, to dump garbage and to use the area to relieve themselves. The CISF recently deployed a dozen personnel to handle the situation, but this has been of little help.
According to a source, despite the airport authorities complaining to the state police and CISF a number of times, the two are reluctant to take up the matter beyond a point. The state police claim that the security of airport and the land under it is the responsibility of the CISF and, hence, the protection of the boundary wall falls under the purview of the latter, the source said.
On the other hand, the CISF claims that, according to the memorandum of understanding with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), its duty is to protect only the operational area of the airport and that the boundary wall does not fall under this.
15/09/09 Satish Jha/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Sep 2009, Safety Sep 2009