Kalpakkam N-plant declared 'no fly zone'

New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) As terror threats loomed large over the country, Indian Government Tuesday declared a 'no-fly zone' around ten kilometre radius of the Kalpakkam nuclear installation in its southern state of Tamil Nadu.

In a notice to all aviation operators, the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prohibited all flying
activity up to a height of 10,000 feet over the Kalpakkam
area, official sources said.

Exercising its special powers, DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi
issued the directive "in the interest of the security of
India".

The order directed that "no person shall fly or assist
in flying an aircraft up to the height of 10,000 feet over the
area included within a radius of ten kms from Kalpakkam
nuclear institution."

Special powers have been granted to the DGCA under the
Aircraft Act of 1934 using which it can issue directives to
all aviation operators, including the air traffic control,
communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic
management.

Situated about 80 kms from Chennai, Kalpakkam houses the
Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS-I) and the Indira Gandhi
Centre for Atomic Research. PTI ARC
SAK