Srinagar: The J&K High Court has directed that no brick kilns be allowed to operate within eight kilometre radius from the centre of the runway at Srinagar Airport.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar gave the order hearing a suo-motu PIL related to the airport, as it was told by the Indian Air Force that the smoke emitting from kilns causes low visibility conditions leading to cancellation of flights and other adversities.
Assistant Solicitor General of India (ASGI), Tahir Majid Shamsi also referred to an October 2017 order of the court wherein the kiln operators had indicated that they would voluntarily shut down the kilns from 15 November 2017 to 31 March 2018.
Shamsi said that the possibility of relocation would also be considered in view of the technical requirements given by the Indian Air Force of not having a brick kiln within an eight kilometre radius from the central point of the runway.
The IAF reply also referred to stipulations of Manual of Air Traffic Service while submitting that that kilns were operating in violation of the rules.
“In this background what has been brought on record, the respondents shall ensure that no brick klin is permitted to operate within 8 km from the centre of the run way of the Srinagar airport.” the court said,
Meanwhile the court was informed by Advocate Anil Bhan representing Airport Authority of India (AAI) that the Nipman foundation has conducted disability audit of the Jammu airport for which the report was awaited. The disability audit of airports at Srinagar and Leh would not be conducted till march because of weather conditions.
However, the court said that there were no justifiable reasons for postponing the disability access audits of airports for over five months and asked Airport Authority of India to discuss the matter with the Nipman foundation again for conducting disability access audits without delay.

NUSRAT SIDIQ