The ambitious plans of acquiring flying machines and making airstrips, controlled by the department of Civil Aviation, is yet to take off even after allotment of sufficient funds to the department.
The department presently controls as many as seven runways across Jharkhand that need renovation. However, due to institutional hindrances the renovation and expansion plans have been put on the backburner. “Airstrips across Jharkhand have not been maintained since the State was created. They need renovation but since the Jharkhand Civil Aviation Authority has been declared as illegal we cannot do anything about it,” said Additional Chief Secretary of Civil Aviation Sajal Chakrabarty.
The Civil Aviation department controls airstrips at Dhanbad, Dumka (which was given to a private company), Deoghar, Gumla, Chaibasa, Hazaribagh and Daltonganj. The airstrips not only need re-carpeting but also expansion at Deoghar besides painting the airport premises for better visibility during landing and take off.
Thanks to the issue surrounding Jharkhand Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), plans are made but without any deadline for execution. The State government had formed JCAA to execute plans made by Civil Aviation department after completing purchase of chopper however the authority itself became a subject of controversy and purchase of choppers remains on paper.
“Money allocated for the construction of runways and purchase of chopper cannot be used as the authority has been declared illegal,” pointed out the Additional Chief Secretary. Incidentally, the department has been clubbed alongwith three other departments for zero spending on the budget that was allocated for the financial year 2013-14. Out of plan outlay of Rs 12 crore for the Civil Aviation department — Rs 4.5 crore was earmarked for infrastructure and Rs 7 crore for the purchasing new chopper to avoid expenses made — on hiring chopper from Bihar.
Interestingly, proposals like forming a society and transferring the rights incidentally placed with the JCAA to the society formed were made. However, even that is also facing hurdles due to a casual approach by the State Government.
The Public Accounts Committee reveiw recommended that the JCAA should be converted into a Corporation however that appears to be put on the back burner, added Chakrabarty. Incidentally, the airstrip at Birsa Munda Airport is said to be in excellent condition. The airstrip, that was re-carpeted in 2009, is periodically examined to ascertain the repair works which are needed to maintain the optimum level of operations.