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May 2007

No security breach at airports, says Centre

     New Delhi: The Government today clarified that there has been no breach of security at the airports of the country. The clarification issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry comes after a private news channel telecasted a news item showing a case of corruption in getting a job as loader through a cargo complex employee. "The current incident is more a case of malpractice involved to get a job as a loader through a cargo complex employee, rather than a case of security breach," a Government press release stated. "In case there has been a security breach, it will be investigated thoroughly by the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security," it added. The Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Civil Aviation also met here today and expressed concern about the reported security breach at airports. Replying to these concerns, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said: "The Ministry will seriously consider all aspects of the issues and apprehensions raised and take a comprehensive review together with the Ministry of Home Affairs and plug all possible loopholes in the security arrangements at the airports". Committee members also decided that a special meeting would be held with private airport operators to review the progress of their work and their future plans.

    Other issues like connectivity to various parts of the country, the working of the two national airlines - - Air India and Indian - - as well as that of private carriers, the working of the private airport operators and the proliferation of institutes providing training for various aviation-related employments and their sanctity, were also discussed. Regarding the proliferation of aviation training and institutes in the metros, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla said: "The Ministry will look into the matter to see whether any policy in this regard or any legal intervention was required". The members also congratulated Patel on the Government's decision to merge Air India and Indian Airlines. Members of Parliament - Madhu Goud Yashki, Sachin Pilot, Santosh Gangwar, Tapir Gao, Ratilal K. Verma, Ashok Argal, Ramswaroop Koli, Sumitra Mahajan, Santosh Bagrodia, Tarlochan Singh, Dinesh Trivedi and Dr. Farooq Abdullah were among those who attended the meeting.
-May 4, 2007