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Free fuel for foreign relief aircraft

The government on Thursday made arrangements to provide free fuel to foreign aircraft coming into India with relief material and personnel and provide single-point clearance by the Civil Aviation Ministry in New Delhi.

"This has been done as a goodwill gesture," Agriculture Secretary Bhaskar Baruah told reporters in Delhi.

Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav, who toured the affected areas on Wednesday, said the airport at Kandla had been made fully functional, though the airport building was badly damaged. The airport has been activated for helicopter and small aircraft operations.

Kandla Air Traffic Control was functioning from an open field with the help of diesel generators and a satellite phone.

"We have installed satellite phones at Ahmedabad, Bhuj and Jamnagar airports as well," he said.

He said Indian Airlines had operated large number of additional flights to Ahmedabad and Bhuj and, along with Air India, were providing free transportation of relief materials. IA was also providing free handling facilities to charter flights coming in from foreign countries.

Airports Authority of India has waived off all charges for foreign aircraft flying in with relief, while private domestic carriers have also been operating additional flights and carrying relief materials free of charge.

Yadav has instructed that airports at Jamnagar, Kandla and Bhuj be used to ease the problem of traffic congestion at Ahmedabad airport.

PTI

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