RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Oct 19: The Jharkhand High Court stayed the demolition of nine high buildings around Deoghar airport, fixing the next date of hearing on the matter on November 21.
The development took place in the division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice S.N. Prasad after the court decided to give building owners an opportunity to present their point during the hearing.
Earlier, the high court had directed Deoghar deputy commissioner to start legal process for demolition of buildings after Godda MP Nishikant Dubey knocked the door of court saying that these high buildings are a hurdle before the beginning of night landing facility at the newly constructed airport.
Notably, on June 28, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted an aerodrome licence to Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand. The licence has been updated from 3C to 4C, allowing commercial aviation operations with aircraft up to and including the Airbus 321, Boeing 737, and comparable models.
The airport at Deoghar, located on 650 acres, is the second in the state after Ranchi. The airport has six check-in counters and a capacity of 200 passengers. It is a domestic airport with a 2,500-meter runway where Airbus A-320 and A-321 can land. It is 45 metres wide. It features four A-320 and A-321 parking bases.
Construction of high-rise buildings in the vicinity of airports is discouraged because they obstruct flights and radar operations as well as pose dangers to those living in buildings close to airports. This is why even in most developed countries multistory buildings are not allowed within 20kms radius of airports. Thus the matter related to multistory building is before the high court in Jharkhand.