New Delhi: Airports Authority of India (AAI) has launched a massive crackdown on the unauthorised encroachment of AAI land across the country.
Recently, AAI closed down two reputed flying clubs in Delhi as well as one in Mumbai for the non-payment of lease rent as well as misuse of property. The Delhi Flying Club had occupied nearly 8000 square metres of prime land in the Safdarjung area where daily flying activity has been halted since 2001.
The club has an outstanding payment of Rs 20 crore while Aero Club has dues valued up to Rs four crore.
Even though flying has been stopped, the club hosts regular marriage parties. According to some club members, Congress leader Satish Sharma had been controlling the place for a long time. When contacted, AAI chairman Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra confirmed these claims and said, "AAI has 55000 acres of land all over the country, 90 per cent is in the airport areas and nearly 10 per cent is in the city area. We are primarily focusing on those lands in the city area, which are situated in prime locations. We have instructed all our regional directors to recover these lands which we can utilise for the organisation. We are speeding up all legal cases for a swift recovery. In many cases, people are occupying these prime lands, with their lease either expired or outstanding."
Dr Mohapatra said, "We have already principally decided to develop hotels, office complexes or create additional hangars in those unused or surplus lands. AAI is also on a major recruitment drive to empower more skilled manpower to fulfil long-term requirements for the next five years in both commercial enterprising and operations."