AAI wants pedestal off statue near airport

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked BK Birla Trust, developers of Birla Kanan near IGI Airport, to reduce the height of the 80-feet Shiva statue by taking off its pedestal.
According to the AAI, the statue is taller than the height specified in the no-objection certificate (NoC) issued to the Trust in 1993.
Senior officials said AAI has also asked the Trust to temporarily stop work on the construction of a Buddha statue, slated to be 54 feet tall, at Birla Kanan. The AAI has sought complete details of the plan before it is given a go-ahead, according to officials.
Officials said the NoC was issued to the Trust for the Shiva statue to be 74 feet above the ground. But the statue stands at a total of 80 feet — 65 feet of the statue plus the 15-foot pedestal.
After the IGI Airport’s new runway, 29-11, became operational in 2008, the statue has created an obstruction for pilots approaching the runway from the east. Pilots say they have to keep the Shiva statue in mind before beginning the final descent as it lies in the funnel area of landing, or the point where an aircraft begins to descend.
10/02/10 Geeta Gupta/Indian Express

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Categories: Airports Feb 2010