THE apprehensions of the Vimana Nildana Vistharana Virodhi Samithi (Local Communities Alliance Against Airport Expansion), Bajpe and the Environment Support Group (ESG) have vindicated with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel coming out with the proposal to increase the length of runway from the present 8000 feet to 9000 feet.

The civil society organisations had repeatedly highlighted the high-risk expansion of the Mangalore international airport during the late 1990s. They had filed PILs emphasising that the airport does not conform to runway design standards laid down by the Director General of Civil Aviation, National Building Code of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation. Probably this horrendous accident would not have happened if the Airports Authority of India had listened to the people’s voice. What is worse, the AAI had made the courts to believe that they would be meeting the recommendations of the authorities. The latest proposal of Mr Patel needs to be thoroughly examined. If the PIL filed by the ESG is to be believed, the second runway, where the accident took place killing 158 passengers, construction began in 2004 and was commissioned in May 2006 but without any techno-economic assessment, feasibility study, or even a comprehensive environment impact assessment. Simply put, the runway was built in violation of applicable laws, standards and direction of the Supreme Court. How could Mr Patel decide to increase the length of this runway? Mr Patel and the Union government should before taking any decision seriously examine the points raised by the concerned citizens.