The district administration faced stiff opposition from the seven-member Indian Air Force (IAF) guard detail at the old aerodrome in the town after the former tried to barricade the helipad without due permission. A team of Revenue and R&B officials were stopped by the guards as they were fencing off the helipad in IAF property to secure it for a helicopter to ferry back Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Sunday.
The IAF authorities, however, granted the permission to secure the place after the administration sought permission from them as required. Though the permission came at 8.30 a.m., the R&B authorities continued work all through the night using two power generators, much to the consternation of the IAF security personnel.
According to information, the district administration got a request from Maharashtra government to make suitable arrangements for the Finance Minister’s visit to Adilabad town on Sunday. He was slated to arrive in the town in the morning by road and leave by air in the afternoon after attending a private event.
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The local Revenue and R&B officials promptly began making arrangements like preparing the helipad at the aerodrome beginning 9 p.m. on Saturday. The noisy developments alerted the guards who asked authorities to stop the work, whatever it may be.
The guards did not budge despite intervention of Adilabad RDO A. Sudhakar Reddy and wanted due permission from IAF authorities. The RDO spoke with Begumpet Air Force Station officers and sent a written request through fax after midnight. “We continued work as there was a likelihood of the IAF authorities giving permission for the fencing. It was a matter of visit of an important government functionary,” Mr. Sudhakar Reddy revealed.
The IAF officials at Begumpet were reported to have informed of the matter to their higher ups at the Bangalore Air Headquarters. The permission apparently came after the consent of the AIR headquarters.
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