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Cabinet clearance for construction of airports, helipads for private use

P. Sunderarajan

No greenfield airport within an aerial distance of 150 km of a civilian airport

NEW DELHI: Marking a major departure in the area of civil aviation, the Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for construction of airports, airstrips and helipads for private use.

Announcing the decision, Union Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said it would have a substantial impact in reducing the burden on other operational airports and improve connection to far-flung locations, without compromising on safety and public interest.

On greenfield airport

Chaired by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet also decided that no greenfield airport would be allowed within an aerial distance of 150 km of an existing civilian airport as a general rule. However, in case such an airport was found necessary, the issue would be examined taking into account the impact on the existing airport. The government would take the decision on a case-to-case basis.

The Cabinet decided to further facilitate co-production of films by Indian and British producers, by allowing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to sign the Annex (Rules of Procedure) to the Film Co-Production Agreement already signed with Britain and gave its approval for signing and ratification of a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement with Bangladesh.

It also gave its nod for introduction of a Bill to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in order to introduce auctioning for coal mining blocks for captive use through competitive bidding as the selection process for allocation, and a Bill to replace the Gram Nyayalaya Bill with a new Bill to take into account the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which went into the Bill, as well as the suggestions made by a conference of Law Ministers, Law Secretaries and Registrar-Generals of High Courts.

The Cabinet gave its approval for the setting up of a 1,000 MW coal-based thermal power plant at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu as a joint venture between Neyveli Lignite Corporation and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The Rs. 4,909-crore plant will have four units of 250 MW each and the power generated will be available to States in the southern region.

The Cabinet gave its nod for setting up of a joint venture company called NLC-Tamil Nadu Power Limited for implementing the project. NLC would have a share holding of 89 per cent and TNEB 11 per cent.

Other amendments

The Cabinet gave its approval for introducing a Bill to amend Sections 8 A, 34 and 123 (7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

The amendment to Section 8 A is intended to provide for a ceiling of three months for submitting to the President the case of persons who were found guilty of corrupt practices for determining whether they should be disqualified and if so for how long.

The amendment to Section 34 is intended to provide for a hike in the security deposit to be made by candidates to Rs. 25,000 for general candidates and Rs. 12,500 for members of the SCs and the STs in case of election to Parliament and Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively for Assembly seats.

The amendment to Section to 123 (7) is intended to expand the definition of persons prohibited from extending assistance to candidates in canvassing for votes to include those in the service of a local authority, university, government company or institution or concern or undertaking appointed or deputed in connection with the conduct of election by the Election Commission.

The amendment to Section 24 of the R.P. Act, 1950 is intended to replace the Chief Electoral Officer with District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate as the authority as the first level for filing appeal against any order of the Electoral Registration Officer.

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