The Hindu : Front Page : “Employees’ interests will be protected”

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Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
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“Employees’ interests will be protected”

New Delhi Bureau

The two existing airports will be open for defence, emergencies: Praful Patel

— Photos: S. Subramanium

WAITING FOR SOLUTIONS: Striking members of the Airports Authority Employees Union protest the planned closure of old airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore, at the IGI domestic terminal in New Delhi on Wednesday. Movement of passengers (seen here at the New Delhi terminal) indicated that the protest, which had a strong echo in Parliament, did not affect flight operations on the first day of the indefinite strike.

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday reiterated that the existing airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore would continue to remain operational for general aviation, defence purposes, and national emergencies and that the interests of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees there would be fully protected.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha after the nationwide “non-cooperation movement” by the AAI echoed in both Houses, leading to several adjournments, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (independent charge) Praful Patel said all reserved activities such as security, immigration, customs and air traffic control would continue to be under government control at the new airports.

Concession Agreement

Mr. Patel said under the Concession Agreement with the Joint Venture Companies, signed in 2004, the Government was obliged to close down all commercial civil aviation operations at the existing airports once the new airports were made operational. The Concession Agreements entail obligations of the Joint Venture Companies to construct, develop and maintain the airports, he said.

The Left members wanted an impromptu discussion. This was disallowed by the Chair saying that since the House was already discussing the General budget, another debate could not be allowed. Not in a mood to relent, despite appeals by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Left members insisted that the issue be discussed, forcing the Chair, Varkala Radhakrishnan, to adjourn the House for the day.

Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned briefly as Left members — supported by Congress members of Andhra Pradesh and the Samajwadi Party — insisted on a statement from the Civil Aviation Minister during the day.

When the Lok Sabha met again, the restive members were pacified by an assurance from Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee that the Minister would reply before the close of the day’s proceedings.

In the Rajya Sabha, the matter was raised by D. Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) who said that instead of taking a confrontationist stand, the Government should hold talks with the striking employees.

Supporting the demands of airport employees, Mr. Raja said the decision to close down two airports was against public interest and to benefit private players.

Later briefing the media, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Basudeb Acharia said the Government was going ahead with the closure of the two airports despite a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation that they be kept operational also.

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