Plane loses contact with ATC for a few minutes, inquiry ordered
NEW DELHI: In a major flight scare, a plane coming to Delhi from Allahabad lost contact with Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) for few minutes on Tuesday evening. According to airport authorities, the flight with 75 passengers on board lost contact soon after taking off from Allahabad airport.
The ATC alerted the nearby airports and even the Indian Air Force (IAF) in case the flight had to be escorted to Delhi airport. “Such incidents raise suspicion of hijacking and security agencies were alerted immediately. Though the contact was restored and flight landed safely at Delhi airport around 5pm,” said an airport official.
Initial investigation suggests that problem in radio transmitter led to the loss of contact and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a complete inquiry.
In a separate incident that created scare at cargo terminal a gun accidentally went off. The gun belonged to a security guard who had come with a cash van of a bank.
Congress had sought more time in the select committees last Thursday, a day after a CBI court summoned former prime minister Manmohan Singh as an accused in a coal scam case. Singh had held the coal portfolio between 2004 and 2009.
In the coal panel, the Congress’ Digvijaya Singh, JD(U)’s KC Tyagi and CPI(M)’s KN Balagopal have submitted dissent notes to the draft report. The mines panel, too, has received three dissent notes.
Those on the opposing side are also said to have objected to the way the panels hurriedly reviewed the bills without consulting stakeholders. “The select committee on the insurance bill held several meetings. But the coal panel refused to meet trade unions, state governments and other stakeholders. Only the power and coal ministry officials deposed before the panel,” said one Opposition leader.
“We will propose amendments to the bill on the floor of the House even though a part of the Opposition is supporting the government on these two bills,” said the CPM’s P Rajeeve.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 allows commercial mining of coal and auction of coal blocks, and comes in the wake of the Supreme Court last year ruling the allocation of more than 200 blocks between 1993 and 2009 as illegal.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill creates a new prospecting licence-cum-mining lease and allows a 50-year lease period for all minerals except coal and lignite.
Shatrughan Sinha’s name too was called out but the actor-turnedpolitician was not present at the meeting. Two MPs cited deaths in their family and a third said he was absentduetoawedding.Pathaksaid she was busy with Panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh.
Modi was earlier said to be upset with 10 of the party’s 46 Rajya Sabha MPs for skipping the vote on the motion of thanks to the President for his speech at the joint sitting of Parliament.
According to sources, Naidu had in previous meetings warned MPs that their names would be called out for poor attendance in Parliament. On Tuesday, he reiterated that the government wants the party MPs to be present in both Houses, especially on days when it is trying to get crucial legislations passed.
Government sources added that the bill would be complemented by other legislation and meas-
ures, including a new Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill that is in the process of being finalised.
Both legislations are to be introduced in the ongoing budget session. An official said the bill cleared by cabinet on Tuesday was being sent to the President for approval before its introduction.
He also pointed to the cabinet approval to signing an agreement with the US for implementation of its Foreign Account Compliance Act, to facilitate flow of information
on cases of tax avoidance through overseas entities.
In addition, a decision was taken at the meeting to join the Multilateral Competent Authority AgreementonAutomaticExchange of Information — which Prime MinisterNarendraModihadstrongly supported during last year’s G20 summitinAustralia,sayingitwould be instrumental in getting information about unaccounted money that was being hoarded and enable its eventual repatriation.