Bidhannagar police commissionerate on Tuesday issued a formal order that prohibits the use of laser beams in and around Calcutta airport following a series of complaints from pilots that the blinding lights often used in social events were distracting them during takeoff and landing.
People found to be violating the order will be charged under penal sections, the police said.
A government order issued by Bidhannagar police commissioner Gaurav Sharma mentions: “Several banquets, hotels, restaurants, clubs and housing societies have come up in and around the jurisdiction of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Calcutta, wherein a lot of lights including laser beams are used during celebration of marriages, parties and different events… which is a source of nuisance in general and cause of vision distraction to the pilots in particular.”
There have been multiple reports of these lights making landing and take-offs difficult for pilots, prompting the police to hold several rounds of meetings with the airport authorities.
“It is necessary to take immediate measures in this regard to prevent danger to human life and the safety of aircraft and to contain nuisance in the matter of laser beams in and around the airport.... It is also necessary that some checks should be put up on the usage of laser light beam illumination and establishing a laser light beam-free zone around Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Calcutta…. Usage of laser beams should not affect aircraft landing, take-off and aircraft flying operations and that immediate action is necessary for the prevention of the same,” the order adds.
The Bidhannagar police commissioner issued the prohibitory order for the free flight zone of Calcutta airport that covers the Airport police station area, Narayanpur police station area, Baguiati police station area, No. 4 Bheri (fishery) at Nabapally, Nalban fishery office, fish market, Goltala, Westside Pavilion, Nicco Park under Bidhannagar south police station area, Sector ll and CJ Block under Bidhannagar east police station area, Jatragachi, Jyotinagar, Sulunguri, Promodgarh under New Town police station area, City Centre-ll, Noapara, Shrachi, Akankha, Nawabpur, Kadampukur, Jatragachi, Ghuni, Sulanguri, Eco Park under Eco Park police station area and surrounding mouza of Raigachi area under Rajarhat police station covering Jagadishpur, Bhatenda, Raigachi, Reckjoani area under Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.
An officer said any person in the earmarked areas found violating the rule shall be punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and appropriate sections of the law.
Section 188 of the IPC deals with the disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant that causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 1,000, or with both.
This prohibitory order will be applicable for 60 days from the date of issuance of the government order.