Association threatens not to use M’lore airport

DHNS

• ‘Stop collection of users’ fee’

Mangalore, 15 September 2010: Members of the Pravasi Sangam, an organisation for overseas affairs and returnees based in Kerala, warned that they will be forced to boycott the Mangalore Airport if their demands inluding the cancellation of airport user’s fee.

 

 

Addressing the protesters, Pravasi Sangam Central Vice-President P K Abdulla said, “the illegal collection of user’s fee is against the interest of domestic passengers and others. Large number of passengers from Kerala and Dakshina Kannada district use the Mangalore Airport because of its proximity,” he said adding that if the Airport Authority of India does not stop the collection of user’s fee, then the protest will be intensified by boycotting the Mangalore Airport.

 

Talking about the compensation being distributed to the kin of victims in the May 22 Air India Express mishap, Abdulla alleged that the advocates Mulla and Mulla was working for the insurance company, instead of helping the families, who lost their beloved ones. “The relief that the dependents have to get lawfully from the insurance company of Air India has not yet assessed properly as per the relevant provisions of Insurance Act. The criteria opted for assessing the insurance compensation is against the provisions of law,” he charged and urged that the compensation should be distributed in a fair manner without any disparity.

 

Further, he pointed out that passengers are put to hardships due to the abrupt cancellation of flights and exorbitant enhancement of ticket charges. Passengers will find it difficult to renew visas, report on duty and to extend the stay, if flights were cancelled abruptly, he added.

 

In his inaugural address, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha President Yadava Shetty said that Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel, the Air India and its insurance company are cheating families of 158 victims of Mangalore Aircrash by not distributing compensation adequately. Though Patel had promised during his visit to Mangalore on May 22 to distribute compensation as per Montreal Convention, the Minister failed to keep his words, he added.

 

Pravasi Sangam Executive Member P P Abdul Rahiman said that those who work for meagre salary in the Gulf countries are being exploited by the Airport Authority of India through airport user’s fee collection. “We will be forced to paralyse the functioning of Mangalore Airport if the authorities refuse to respond to our demand,” he added.

 

Airport Director M R Vasudeva received the memorandum and promised that he will discuss the issue with the officials in the Airport Authority of India. DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla and others were present.