West Bengal: Flight plans grounded at Cooch Behar
State administration has withdrawn police personnel from Cooch Behar airport.
In Short
- On Sunday, over 40 West Bengal police personnel posted at the airport were withdrawn
- Airport authorities are clueless since the state administration has not conveyed anything
- On Saturday a nine-seater had landed on a trial run; regular operations any time soon unlikely
The fledgling Cooch Behar airport has become an unlikely casualty in the face-off between West Bengal government and the Centre.
The airport which was to become operational from early August will likely miss the date.
On Sunday, over 40 West Bengal police personnel posted at the airport were withdrawn. This puts the security and safety of the airport at stake.
There were 46 police personnel of state police deployed on duty for the past few months. Even the armed police in the security zone have been taken off. No reason for their withdrawal has been forthcoming.
Airport authorities are clueless since the state administration has not conveyed anything in writing to them.
On Saturday a nine-seater had landed on a trial run.
Cooch Behar Airport Director Biplab Mandal said, "I do not know what has happened. We saw fewer state police on Saturday night. From Sunday afternoon there is no state police in the whole airport.
The airport authorities said the administration was informed about the Saturday’s trial run. According to the rules, fire tenders and police personnel are required to be present at the airport. However, on the night of the flight, the state withdrew the police.
BJP MP from Cooch Behar Nishith Pramanik himself was on the trial flight on Saturday. After the withdrawal of the state police, the MP came to the airport on Sunday and met with the authorities.
"The state government has removed the police without any reason. If any mishap occurs at the airport, the state government will be responsible, he said.
After the two-day test flight, the aircraft was supposed to operate on a regular basis from Monday but now things have stalled.
After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to power in the state, she took the initiative to put Cooch Behar on the aviation map.
After discussions with the Central government, BJP MP Nishith Pramanik announced air services will be launched on Bagdogra-Cooch Behar-Guwahati route.
The slug fest between Delhi and Kolkata has left the locals flightless.