MP discusses IAF zone with officials in Gurgaon

GURGAON: With the deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana high court approaching, Gurgaon MP and MoS (defence) Rao Inderjit Singh on Wednesday held a meeting with senior defence officials on the issue of the reduction of the restricted zone from 900m to 500m around the IAF ammunition depot.The high court had in February directed the Union government to take a call on the reduction of the restricted zone around the IAF ammunition depot in Gurgaon by April 20.Sources told TOI that Singh has asked the defence officials to find an amicable solution to the issue, keeping in mind the safety of IAF ammunition depot as well as thousands of families who have been living in and around the restricted zone."It is likely that the area of the restricted zone would be reduced from 900 m to 500 m," the sources said.The area of 900m around the ammunition depot in Gurgaon covers around 2,325 acres of area and has 14,154 structures. The built-up area is around 692 acres. Under the 500m radius, 1,131 acres are covered and there are 6,275 structures. The built-up area is spread over 283.89 acres.The matter had reached the high court after a public interest litigation was filed by one Suersh Goyal, seeking the removal of constructions from 100 m area around the Air Force Station at Dabua in Faridabad, which is 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 zone of 900m of the ammunition depot of IAF in Gurgaon.