*Increased bird activity too posing danger to aircrafts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 19: The runway of Jammu Airport is facing constant threat from a chocked and broken nullah, which carries sewage from different parts of city and flows beneath the southern side of the airstrip, as its de-silting and repair has not been carried out during the past more than one decade.
Despite being aware of lurking danger, the Cantonment Board is sleeping over the grave issue and Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) of the State Government, which has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for diversion/maintenance of the nullah, is groping in dark about massive funding required to implement the project.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that a nullah, which carries huge quantity of sewage from different parts of Jammu and enters major Landoi Choi Nullah on Chatha side after crossing the Jammu Airport, has not received any focus of the Cantonment Board during the past more than one decade and in the absence of any de-silting/maintenance activity, the nullah has suffered damages at many places besides getting chocked on various points particularly inside the airport.
Now, the situation has assumed alarming proportion as earlier little quantity of sewerage water was entering the runway following flooding of the nullah during the rains but in the recent heavy monsoon showers particularly on the intervening night of July 8 and 9, the chocked and broken nullah virtually created havoc as huge silt flowed out on the runway, sources disclosed.
In order to ensure safety of the runway, the Air Force as well as Airport Authority of India (AAI) authorities had to rush additional men and machinery for prompt removal of sewage and de-water the runway in order to ensure safe landing of the aircrafts. Moreover, the open portion of this particular nullah on other side of the runway has led to increased bird activity, which is also considered as a major threat to the aircrafts landing or taking off from the airport, sources further informed.
“During every heavy spell of rains, the Air Force and AAI authorities remain worried about safety of the runway besides they are compelled to regularly deploy certain persons with air guns so as to scare away the birds, which otherwise carry the potential of hitting the aircraft”, they said.
Notwithstanding the prevailing situation, the Cantonment Board, which is supposed to lay focus on this nullah because of area falling under its jurisdiction, has not paid any attention towards maintenance and de-silting of the chocked and broken nullah till date, sources said while disclosing that no activity has been carried out in this nullah during the past more than one decade.
Perturbed over lurking danger, the authorities of Air Force and AAI recently brought the prevailing situation to the notice of the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, who has assured to look into the issue on priority basis and find out some remedial measure. “The Air Force and AAI authorities have stressed for diversion of nullah to permanently avoid threat perception to the runway”, sources added.
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal confirmed that chocked and damaged nullah is constantly posing threat to the runway and bird activities to the aircrafts. “Cantonment Board is the main agency, which has to ensure proper de-silting and maintenance of the nullah because of area falling under its jurisdiction”, he added.
Disclosing that Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) has prepared a Detailed Project Report for this specific nullah, the Divisional Commissioner said, “the source of funding is yet to be decided”, adding “we will try to give necessary push to this project so that funds are arranged and threat to the runway is avoided once for all”.
When asked about diversion of nullah, he said, “unless a major project with proper funding is decided the diversion is not possible”, adding “all the options are being explored so as to ensure safety of the runway”.
“Since few hours of rainfall creates much difficulties for Air Force and AAI, how much havoc this chocked and broken nullah can create in case of several days long heavy rainfall can be easily gauged”, sources said, adding “the prevailing situation demands prompt and time-bound action so that strategically important airport doesn’t suffer any major damage”.
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