Srinagar, May 17: While the stakeholders have been urging the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take up the issue of night landing with the Central Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Defence, the clamour seems to have found no listeners. On ground, the state government is maintaining silence over the issue, much to the annoyance of the stakeholders.
“If the Chief Minister will take up the matter with Civil Aviation authorities and Defence Ministry, it would certainly make the difference,” said an airport official, wishing anonymity.
 He said Chief Minister should immediately convene a meeting of the stakeholders at the local level and then take up the issue with the MOD and MCA.
 Pertinently, the Srinagar-based AAI officials have already taken up the issue with the State’s Civil Aviation Department. “The state has to get serious about the issue, given the benefits that the facility has. It is a long pending demand of the stakeholders who have been pleading that it would give fillip to the tourism sector and ensure more job avenues for the youth in Jammu and Kashmir,” the airport official reiterated.
 The AAI has also made it clear in various quarters that it was ready to handle such a facility. But since the runway operations are handled by the Indian Air Force, the Defence Ministry has to take the final call.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 IST