Ranchi, Aug. 29: If the expansion of the capital’s airport is being held up due to the construction of highrises around its periphery, the Birsa Munda Airport has now been armed, albeit indirectly, to take care of the problem.

For, the Union civil aviation ministry has issued guidelines making the state government responsible for taking action against those constructing apartment blocks, towers or installations like high chimneys around the airport in violation of the provisions of the Aircraft Act, 1934.

Till now, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Ranchi has been at the mercy of a lackadaisical Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) for taking action against private builders for violating height restrictions around the airport. But, the civil aviation guideline will now ensure that the onus remains on the state government to clear the skyline. “Any structure constructed after one month of issuing of this notification would automatically be considered as illegal and has to be dealt with by the district administration and local authorities for removal/reduction of the height,” said the notification issued by the joint secretary, ministry of civil aviation, K. N. Shrivastava.

According to the notification, which the AAI in Ranchi received a couple of days back, a certified copy of any new construction would have to be deposited with the AAI and the state government after a project’s completion.

In turn, the state and its various authorities would have to ensure that the height restrictions on construction as specified in the AAI NOC (no-objection certificate) are fully complied with.

According to an aviation department source, AAI would be responsible for issuing NOCs on behalf of the Union government for any construction in respect of civil airports, state airports and private airports.

For military aerodromes, defence authorities would be responsible for ensuring that additional restrictions were adhered to.

Most of the highrises near the Ranchi airport were about 90 feet or more whereas, roughly, these should have been restricted to around 35-40 feet. The height is calculated according to the construction’s distance from the aerodrome reference point (ARP).

“No building or structure higher than the specified height can be constructed or erected and no tree which is likely to grow higher than what is allowed should be planted. In case this happens, the owners will have to reduce the height or demolish the building within a month of a notice being issued,” said the guideline.

Birsa Munda Airport director A.V. Krishna said aircraft and passengers were exposed to a grave risk due to the unfettered construction of apartment blocks and the erection of mobile towers.

In spite of repeated warnings, builders continued construction of the blocks many of them with mobile towers on terraces.

In fact, he said the AAI had written to the Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA) and the RMC asking them to take action against those violating building rules around the airport. Also, the issue was raised with the then chief secretary a year-and-a-half ago, but till now no action had been taken.

Krishna said according to rules, any building within a radius of 20km of the airport would have to take prior permission from the AAI.

The building plans would be cleared by the RRDA or RMC only after the AAI’s nod.

In fact, after construction was completed, both the agencies would have to verify the specifications before okaying the building.