Civil Aviation ministry issues new rules to demolish obstructions near airports

A week after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad the Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed new draft regulations aimed at enhancing flight safety by removing hazardous obstructions near airportsTitled the Aircraft Demolition of Obstructions Rules 2025 the draft was released on June 18 and will come into effect upon notification in the Official Gazette as per news agency ANIThe proposed rules empower authorities to take swift action against buildings trees or any other structures that breach permissible height limits within designated aerodrome zones The move is viewed as a preventive measure to eliminate risks posed by such obstructions in aircraft flight pathsWhere any notification has been issued by the Central Government under subsection 1 of section 18 of the Act and the officerincharge of the concerned aerodrome has reason to believe that any building or tree exists in violation of the provisions of the aforesaid notification he shall serve a copy of the notification on the owner of the building or tree as the case may be in accordance with the procedure laid down in subsection 3 of said section the draft reads reported news agency ANIUnder the draft any structure found violating the prescribed height limits may be served with a notice by the officerincharge of an aerodrome Owners must submit detailed information including structure dimensions and site plans within sixty days Failure to comply could result in enforcement action including demolition or height reductionThe officerincharge of the concerned aerodrome shall forthwith send a report of such violation to the Director General or any officer authorised by him in this behalf it added reported ANIFor physical verification officers are empowered to enter the premises during daylight hours after informing the owner In cases of noncooperation officers may proceed based on available information and refer the matter to the DGCABefore forwarding the details to the Director General the officerincharge of the aerodrome shall satisfy himself about the correctness of the details and for that purpose he shall be empowered to enter the premises in question and carry out physical verification of the dimensions of the building or tree as the case may be during daylight hours and with reasonable prior notice to the owner who shall be duty bound to extend full cooperation during such physical verification it further added reported ANIIf there is noncompliance the officerincharge must report the matter to the District Collector who is then responsible for ensuring the demolition or trimming is carried out in accordance with the order The procedure will mirror the process used for removing unauthorised constructionsOwners have the right to appeal orders to the First or Second Appellate Officer Appeals must be filed in the prescribed form along with supporting documents and a fee of Rs 1000 However only those who comply with the orders may claim compensation under section 22 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024 Any new noncompliant structures built after the notification will not be eligible for compensation as per ANIThe Civil Aviation Ministry has invited objections or suggestions from the public within twenty days of the notifications publication Responses may be sent to the DirectorGeneral of Civil AviationOn June 12 a Londonbound Air India Boeing 7878 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarats Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International AirportThe tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani reported ANIWith ANI inputs