New Delhi: Drones are taking off in India, but buyers are often unaware of the legal turbulence that may lie ahead. While sales are going through the roof, prior permission from authorities is necessary to fly them.
Delhi Police this month detained three foreigners in southwest Delhi's Dwarka area for operating a drone from their terrace. Four people were arrested in Varanasi for filming Ganga aarti through drone cameras at the Dashashwamedha Ghat without permission in 2014.
A huge aerial photography sector is thriving in the ambiguity as civil aviation regulator DGCA is yet to issue a notification on the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for civilian purposes. The agency banned the use of drones for commercial purposes in October 2014. It came out with a draft policy for operations of drones in April 2016, which brought some cheer for the industry. But the final policy is yet to see daylight. Usage of drones came under the scanner due to security concerns as officials pointed out that the vehicles can be used to carry out aerial attacks and pose a great threat if not regulated.
As the demand for high-powered drones has gone up manifold, it has given rise to a grey market openly selling these gizmos at a premium price. Bollywood films, high-end weddings and large concerts are often shot using drones to get an eagle-eye view and capture the scale. "One cannot import a drone as customs department will not clear it. Only those having permission on government letterheads get approval. In India there is no ban on sale of drones but there is restriction on usage. In this situation only the grey market is growing and bribery at police stations and customs for clearance has increased," said John Livingstone, president of the Consortium of Unmanned Vehicle Systems India.
27/01/16 Shashank Shekhar/India Today
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Delhi Police this month detained three foreigners in southwest Delhi's Dwarka area for operating a drone from their terrace. Four people were arrested in Varanasi for filming Ganga aarti through drone cameras at the Dashashwamedha Ghat without permission in 2014.
A huge aerial photography sector is thriving in the ambiguity as civil aviation regulator DGCA is yet to issue a notification on the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for civilian purposes. The agency banned the use of drones for commercial purposes in October 2014. It came out with a draft policy for operations of drones in April 2016, which brought some cheer for the industry. But the final policy is yet to see daylight. Usage of drones came under the scanner due to security concerns as officials pointed out that the vehicles can be used to carry out aerial attacks and pose a great threat if not regulated.
As the demand for high-powered drones has gone up manifold, it has given rise to a grey market openly selling these gizmos at a premium price. Bollywood films, high-end weddings and large concerts are often shot using drones to get an eagle-eye view and capture the scale. "One cannot import a drone as customs department will not clear it. Only those having permission on government letterheads get approval. In India there is no ban on sale of drones but there is restriction on usage. In this situation only the grey market is growing and bribery at police stations and customs for clearance has increased," said John Livingstone, president of the Consortium of Unmanned Vehicle Systems India.
27/01/16 Shashank Shekhar/India Today
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