FAHEEM ASLAM

Srinagar, Aug 27: With proposed closure of the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport barely four days away, the Jammu and Kashmir government is not coming clear on whether any alternative to the flights arrival to Srinagar has been explored or not.
 While people continue to express anger over the move, the state government is still beating the drum of having taken up the issue with New Delhi. “I think the chief minister’s secretariat is at it. They have taken up the matter with Civil Aviation Ministry,” said the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar.
 Asked if there was any response from the Ministry, he said, “I don’t know about that.”
 People accuse the government of buying time. “Why is the government maintaining silence over the issue?” asked Shafaat Bhat, a Delhi-based Kashmiri student. “Hundreds of people have to book their tickets before Eid. So the government must come clear on the issue.”
 The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had two days back assured that the Valley won’t remain cut off for 12 days and that the state was exploring the alternate options to ensure that people don’t suffer in the wake of airport closure. “We are exploring the options,” he had said. “The Valley can’t remain cut off for 12 days. There are people who have to visit the Valley to celebrate Eid with their families. We have to think of them.”
 It has been reliably learnt that the government has taken up the issue with the Defence Ministry, seeking an alternate to flights arrival to Srinagar from September 1 to 12, when the airport is closing on account of ‘runway re-carpeting.’
 But as of now, the sources said, the Ministry is yet to respond. “It is actually the Defence Ministry that has to accept the alternate options of either doing the runway repairs on alternate days or keep its Awantipora air-base available for flights arrival to Srinagar,” they said.
 With Awantipora air-base, the state is facing a grave problem: the airlines are adamant that they won’t operate from there as the air-base lacked all the basic facilities, including the terminal building and security paraphernalia. This indicates it is left with only two options: to either convince the Defence Ministry of doing the repair work on alternate days or accept its missive of closing the airport for 12 days.
 Sources said the state has now approached the Civil Aviation Ministry, informing it that the airlines were refusing to operate from the Awantipora air-base. The response from the CA Ministry too is awaited.
 “It is said that the government is taking people for granted,” said Aijaz, a resident of Hyderpora. “I had to take my aunt for treatment to AIIMS New Delhi on September 5, but I am not sure whether the flights would operate or not. The state is just playing with the lives of patients and the sentiments of those who want to visit the Valley to observe Eid with their families.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST