Navi Mumbai Airport Issues Building Height Violation Notices, Causing Panic
Residents of Navi Mumbai are currently in a state of distress and confusion as they receive notices from the Navi Mumbai International Airport Pvt Limited (NMIAL) requesting details of the heights of their buildings near the airport area. This move has sparked anger and frustration among residents and activists who fear that their structures may face partial demolition due to height violations.
NMIAL, a subsidiary of the Adani group responsible for the construction of the international airport set to become operational by March 2025, claims that the request for building height details is essential for airport safety compliance. The agency cites the Ministry of Civil Aviation notification on height restrictions within a 20 km radius of an airport as the basis for their actions.
Height restrictions around airports are put in place by the Civil Aviation Department to prevent buildings from posing a hazard to air navigation. Following an aeronautical survey conducted by NMIAL last year, it was discovered that some buildings in the vicinity of the airport are in violation of these height restrictions. As a result, notices of height violations were sent to housing societies in Ulwe, Kharghar, and sector 50E of Seawoods in Nerul to ensure the safety of aircraft operations.
The violations identified by NMIAL include structures such as hoardings, water tanks, antennas, sheds, parapets, staircases, and more. The affected societies have been given a 15-day deadline to provide detailed information on the top height of the buildings, the dates of commencement and completion of construction, sanctioned building plans from the local town planning authority, copies of occupation certificates issued by the authority, WGS-84 coordinates of the buildings, ‘No Objections Certificate – Height clearance’ from the Airports Authority of India, and any other relevant information.
Reacting to the notices, former corporator Netra Shirke has raised objections and brought the matter to the attention of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and MLA Ganesh Naik. Shirke questions the authority of NMIAL, a private entity, to issue notices directly to citizens when the NMMC serves as the planning authority in the region. She argues that the buildings in question were constructed with the necessary permissions from the civic body and questions the need for additional scrutiny from NMIAL.
Shirke emphasizes that structures such as water tanks and sheds are essential components of residential buildings and should not be subject to demolition. She also points out that the relocation of the Airport Surveillance Radar from Nerul to Belapur has alleviated concerns about height restrictions in the area.
Former MLA and BJP city chief Sandeep Naik assures residents that those with occupation certificates are secure and promises to escalate the matter to the highest levels, including the aviation minister, to address the panic caused by the notices. Municipal commissioner Kailas Shinde clarifies that NMIAL’s actions are part of a routine procedure required by law before the airport can commence operations.
Shinde explains that NMIAL, as a government-appointed entity for airport development, has the necessary authority to request information from residents and that the NMMC will cooperate by providing relevant records. He advises residents to direct their queries to NMIAL or the civil aviation department and assures them that there is no need for panic.
An NMIAL official clarifies that the notices issued are part of an information collection exercise necessary for obtaining an aerodrome license. The agency is complying with the Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions caused by building and trees etc,) Rules 1994 by identifying superstructures on buildings that violate height restrictions based on their aeronautical survey conducted in 2023. The official stresses that no notices have been issued for floor violations and that the agency would have preferred planning authorities to handle the notices but was instructed by CIDCO to do so.
In conclusion, the situation surrounding the building height violation notices issued by NMIAL to residents of Navi Mumbai has caused concern and uncertainty among the affected individuals. While NMIAL maintains that these actions are necessary for airport safety compliance, residents and activists are questioning the legitimacy of the notices and expressing their fears of potential demolitions. It is essential for all parties involved to communicate effectively and address the concerns raised by residents to ensure a smooth resolution to the issue.