Restricted zone around Gurgaon IAF ammo depot cut to 300 metres

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 7

Nearly nine months after recommendations were made for reducing the restricted zone from 900 metres to 500 meters around the IAF ammunition depot at Gurgaon, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was today informed that a decision had, in fact, been taken to decrease the area to 300 metres.

A statement to this effect was made before a Division Bench of the High Court by the Central Government this morning. The assertion came just about two months after the High Court had asked the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) to take a decision in the matter.

within the restricted zone of 900 metres around the ammunition depot were to be saved from possible demolition if the recommendation of reducing the zone to 500 metres was accepted. But now, with a further reduction in the area, the number of structures saved will be much higher.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of the ongoing petition filed in public interest against encroachments in prohibited zones around the air force stations in Gurgaon and Faridabad.

In its report, a committee said 500 to 600 metres was the appropriate radius and appropriate for public traffic route. Even in the case of a mishap, the buildings will not collapse and only suffer about 10 per cent damage. Moreover, fatality was unlikely.

The matter had reached the High Court afterpublic interest litigation was filed by Suresh Goyal of Faridabad. He was seeking the removal of constructions within the 100-metre area around the Air Force Station, Dabua, in Faridabad, as it was a protected zone under provisions of the Work of Defence Act. The High Court had also taken cognizance of a similar matter on the construction activities within the restricted 900-metre zone in Gurgaon.