Settlements around Bidar air base a threat to safety
The Government has failed to enforce building regulations The rules prohibit residential buildings in a radius of 900 m from the air base The Government can deny permission for construction of buildings A circular issued by the Bidar Urban Development Authority is vague Minister plans to convene a meeting to discuss the issue Bidar: The State Government's failure to enforce the prohibition on civilian settlements in a radius of 900 m around the Air Force Training Base here has compromised safety. On March 18, an aircraft of the "Surya Kiran" aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force crashed on the outskirts of Bidar killing two pilots. The wreckage of the aircraft fell less than 40 ft from a college building and 200 m from a residential area. Air Force sources say the pilots avoided loss of civilian life by diverting the flight path just before the crash. Senior IAF officials say the Government should, without further delay, enforce the prohibition on civilia...