In a bid to provide round-the-clock air support for anti-Naxal operations, the Centre has decided to provide night landing facilities at all the helipads in the ultra-left extremism-hit districts of Chhattisgarh.
There are 12 districts in Chhattisgarh which are worst hit by Naxalism and provision of night-landing facility will help the security forces in swift induction of troops and evacuation of the injured personnel — lack of which has been a major handicap in operations in the past. Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Narayanpur and Kanker are among the districts most affected by Naxalism.
The decision comes following recommendation of a high-level committee, headed by former CRPF Director General K Vijay Kumar, which went into reasons for the Naxal attack in the State on December 1 in which 14 CRPF personnel were killed.
The Union Home Ministry has requested the Chhattisgarh Government to initiate the process of developing the helipads to facilitate night-landing facility through respective district magistrates and the expenses will be reimbursed under Centre’s security related expenditure (SRE) scheme, official sources said here on Monday.
lack of night-landing facility often hampers movement of security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations. There have been several occasions in the past when injured jawans could not be airlifted on time leading to fatalities. The upgraded helipads will also facilitate evacuation of sick security personnel needing urgent medical attention.
The Home Ministry will also request the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to install necessary equipment to facilitate night-landing of helicopters and aircraft at Jagdalpur air field. The airfield is operated by the AAI, under the Civil Aviation Ministry. The Centre will also bear the expenses for the upgradation of Jagdalpur airfield.
The Indian Air Force, which operates at least four helicopters in Chhattisgarh for movement of troops and evacuation of injured, did not land its choppers many a times in the past despite emergency due to lack of such facilities at the helipads in the State’s Maoist-affected districts.
Officials said the upgradation of the helipads will also help the security forces to plan long haul operations against the ultras and the move is expected to instill a higher degree of reassurance amongst the security forces’ personnel. It will also help in rushing reinforcements during ongoing operations.