A High Level coordination meeting between Punjab Government officers and Air Force Station Chandigarh officers was today held under the chairmanship of Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Chief Secretary, Punjab. At the onset authorities of the AFS gave a detailed presentation of the issues pertaining to the smooth operations and administration of the Air Force Station.
The issues raised by Air Force authorities included drainage connectivity from Air Force Station to Sukhna Choe, clearance of blockages/encroachments on drain in village Bhabat, unauthorized constructions/encroachments in restricted zones, garbage dumping near Sukhna Choe, caracus dump in village Kambali attracting birds and endangering flight safety.
To resolve the drainage connectivity and water-logging issues raised by Air Force Authorities, Chief Engineer, Irrigation (Drainage) and Director Water Resources (Irrigation) were instructed to jointly visit the affected sites and provide technical expertise to the Air Force authorities to resolve this issue. It was further directed to start the tendering process immediately to complete the drain connectivity work falling in the State of Punjab.
Addressing the issue of unauthorized construction and encroachments in the restricted zone in Village Jagatpura and Bhabat explained by Air Force authorities with photographs, Deputy Commissioner SAS Nagar informed that the demolition drives were already being conducted in the past and more such drives would also be conducted in future to ensure that there is ni breach of security of the Air Force Station.Chief Secretary also constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Vishavjeet Khanna, Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation to explore the possibility of setting up an incinerator for tackling bird menace caused by Caracus dump in village Kambali which has been posing a major danger to the flight security operations. The committee would be comprised of Secretary, Local Government, Director Local Government, Director Rural Development and an officer of Air Force Station.
On the issue of illegal cultivation over the acquired land on the periphery of the Air Force Station which has choked the Air Force Drain, Chief Secretary asked the Deputy Commissioner to clear the government land and restore the vital Air Force Drain.On the issue of unauthorized dumping of garbage near Sukhna Choe causing bird menace, the Chief Secretary fixed the responsibility of Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Zirakpur to clear this chunk of land from the garbage. The Chief Secretary further directed the Department of Local Government to ensure that unauthorized dumping of garbage in the surrounding area of the Air Force Station is strictly prohibited to avoid any mishap.
Mr. Viswajeet Khanna Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, raised the long pending issue of transfer of Defence land to GMADA for widening of Kurali-Siswan road. The AFS authorities were asked to take up this issue urgently as the development of the Mullanpur area is depended on the widening of this crucial link road.Prominent amongst other who were present in the meeting included Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Financial Commission Revenue, Mr. Viswajeet Khanna, Principal Secretary Civil Aviation, MrsRavneet Kaur, Principal Secretary, General Administration & Coordination, Mr. Ashok Gupta, Secretary Local Government, Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Secretary PWD. From Air Force Station Chandigarh, apart from Air Commodore S K Indoria , Group Captain M K Sharma, Group Captain P K Chandola, Wing Cdr Vijay Mohan also participated in the meeting.