The Air India flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 revived deep concerns about safety at Goa’s Dabolim airport. Longstanding worries over unauthorised high-rise buildings infringing the airport’s critical funnel zone — crucial for safe take-offs and landings — have resurfaced, highlighting enforcement lapses and risks to both aircrew and residents nearby. The Goan delves deeper into the issue to uncover all angles
VASCO
The crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12 brought back painful memories when two Ilyushin Il-38 naval aircraft collided mid-air close to Dabolim airport on October 1, 2002, killing 12 naval personnel in both planes and 3 civilians at a construction site.
Not only has the Ahmedabad tragedy renewed anxiety among residents living near Goa’s Dabolim airport, it has also brought back into focus longstanding concerns about the mushrooming of high-rise structures within the airport’s approach and take-off funnel zone—many of which are allegedly unauthorised and constructed without clearances from the Indian Navy.
Dabolim airport, a civil enclave operating out of a military airbase, has strict aviation safety guidelines in place due to its sensitive nature. One of the key zones requiring protection is the funnel zone, a defined airspace that must remain free of vertical obstructions to allow aircraft to safely ascend and descend.
Surge in multi-storeyed buildings
Over the years, however, this area—particularly in and around Chicalim—has seen a surge in multi-storeyed buildings, some of which have been cited in naval reports as violating Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) norms.
Despite a categorical directive from the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court issued on February 28, 2018, instructing the demolition of illegal structures in Survey No. 60/2 and adjacent areas, enforcement has been noticeably lacking.
The court had stated that no construction should take place without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Navy, yet numerous buildings have continued to come up—allegedly without securing this clearance.
The 2018 judgment was based on repeated communications from the Indian Navy dating back to 2015, highlighting how such constructions could compromise aviation safety.
These letters were addressed to various local and state-level authorities, including the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA), Chicalim Panchayat, and the State government. The Navy had clearly raised objections about the threat posed by these developments to both aircraft and civilians on the ground.
While officials claim that some demolitions have taken place and more are scheduled, progress has been painfully slow. Documents titled “Reports on Obstacles Infringing Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) around Dabolim Airport” prepared by naval authorities reveal that several buildings near the airport were granted occupancy certificates without the necessary Navy approvals. The presence of these structures directly in the flight funnel area has sparked serious safety concerns.
Adding complexity to the situation is the alleged involvement of influential individuals in the approval and construction of these buildings. Among those named in public complaints and NGO reports is Kamla Prasad Yadav, current sarpanch of Chicalim and former member of the MPDA. His name has been linked to at least one structure flagged by naval reports.
Yadav, however, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the building associated with his company is outside the funnel zone and fully compliant with regulations.
Despite these denials, the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. New buildings have appeared even after the 2018 court order, raising questions about the efficacy of oversight and enforcement mechanisms. Occupancy certificates continue to be issued, sometimes in clear defiance of aviation safety protocols.
The court had earlier noted that authorities had failed to act not only on the petitioner’s allegations but also on the Navy’s own objections.
Concerns among residents, planners
For residents living in these high-rises, the fear is growing. Many purchased their homes unaware of the legal status or aviation risks associated with their buildings. The crash in Ahmedabad has served as a grim reminder of what can happen when aircraft face complications during landing or take-off in areas with compromised clearance zones.
Urban planners and aviation experts have also warned that Goa's unchecked vertical expansion near Dabolim could have disastrous consequences if left unaddressed. The proximity of residential high-rises to the airport’s runway corridor is a situation that requires immediate intervention—not just paperwork and promises.
Seven years after the High Court issued its demolition directive, enforcement agencies appear to be moving at a glacial pace. In the meantime, more structures are being erected, more certificates are being handed out, and more lives are potentially being placed at risk.
With memories of the Ahmedabad plane crash still raw, questions now loom over how long it will take for Goa to act decisively—or whether it will wait until disaster strikes closer home.
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How funnel zone case in HC led to MPDA demolitions
The ongoing controversy over illegal structures in the funnel zone near Dabolim airport began when an NGO approached the High Court alleging rampant, unauthorised constructions that posed aviation risks.
According to Chicalim Sarpanch Kamla Prasad Yadav, the court then directed the Indian Navy to verify violations of height restrictions and the presence or absence of Naval No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
“The Navy began its verification and found that many houses had valid permissions from local authorities like the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA). Some had even obtained Naval NOCs with specific height limits. But suddenly, the Navy changed its stance, claiming that previously granted clearances — such as 3-metre height approvals — were now being reduced to just 1.5 metres,” Yadav said.
He explained that in most cases, landowners would first obtain the Naval height clearance, and then secure approvals from other planning bodies before constructing homes. “If the Navy now says the height approval was a mistake, residents have nowhere to go. Their houses are declared illegal through no fault of their own,” he added.
Yadav said this shift in the Navy's approach led to MPDA initiating demolition drives, affecting families who believed they had followed all legal processes. “Seeing innocent people suffer due to this flip-flop, I resigned from the MPDA. I could not be part of a system that inflicted such injustice on common citizens,” he said.
The case, which began with safety concerns, has now evolved into a flashpoint between agencies, with locals caught in the crossfire — facing the demolition of homes built on what they believed was fully legal ground.
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My building was never illegal, got dragged into political storm: Chicalim Sarpanch
Chicalim Sarpanch and builder Kamla Prasad Yadav has claimed that his name was wrongly dragged into a long-standing court case involving illegal structures in the Dabolim airport funnel zone.
Yadav clarified that his project ‘Sahara Residency’, constructed in 2015, was located outside the flight path and did not require Navy clearance.
“The case filed in 2008 was against illegal structures in the funnel zone. My building was not part of that case. I had obtained all permissions, including from the MPDA. Since the building was outside the funnel zone, a Naval NOC was not applicable,” Yadav said.
He added that his name surfaced only during the proceedings of the case, which mentioned his project in court, questioning how a high-rise was permitted.
“The Navy confirmed they hadn’t issued a NOC—not because of illegality, but because I didn’t require one. Still, media outlets ran misleading front-page stories showing flights over my building. It was a politically motivated attempt to damage my image.”
Yadav said he entered the case and was cleared by the court by 2020. He further alleged that after the 2022 elections, another politically-backed NGO filed a separate case against one of his new projects, claiming it lacked a 10-metre access road. That case, too, was resolved in his favour, but not without financial and reputational damage. “This is targeted harassment,” he said.
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Naval clearances triggered years of friction with MPDA
The conflict between the Indian Navy and the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) over construction norms near Dabolim airport has simmered for years, with multiple flashpoints involving unclear regulations and jurisdictional overlap.
Back in September 2018, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho had urged the Navy to provide a definitive demarcation plan—complete with height limits and clear drawings—to enable MPDA to implement the restrictions with consistency.
Godinho argued that without transparent zoning, residents were left in uncertainty over what construction was permissible. He had also pointed out the practical hardships faced by locals unable to build on their own land while awaiting clearances.
During the same period, Godinho had defended the deputy sarpanch of Chicalim Panchayat, accusing a “bogus NGO with vested interests” of spreading misinformation and attempting to malign the panchayat’s reputation.
The issue escalated further in 2020, when the MPDA, under its then chairman and then Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias, resolved to approach the Supreme Court against the Navy’s directive mandating a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for any construction within a 4-km radius of the airport.
Dias had stated that this blanket clause affected almost the entire Mormugao taluka, leaving hardly any space for legal construction. He also questioned the Navy’s own high-rise constructions near the airbase and demanded records and permissions for the same.
A decision to legally challenge the 4-km NOC clause was approved in an MPDA meeting that included key ministers and MLAs, setting the stage for a prolonged institutional stand-off.
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Demolitions spark anger as locals question MPDA action
The Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) on February 16, 2024, carried out partial demolition of 11 houses located within the airport funnel zone at Dabolim, citing height violations as per directives of the High Court.
The action sparked widespread anger among residents, many of whom claimed to have lived there for over 15 years with valid documents.
The affected families alleged that the demolitions were arbitrary and that authorities had failed to act earlier during the construction phase.
“We have sale deeds, mutations, and all permissions, including NOCs. Why did they wait 15 years? We took loans, pledged gold, and built homes—now they want to tear them down. This is harassment,” said a resident, adding that streetlights and nearby hills were taller than their houses.
The MPDA member secretary defended the move, stating that the action was in compliance with High Court directions based on data provided by the Indian Navy.
“We have orders for 11 houses under contempt of court. More cases may follow, depending on further instructions,” the official said.
Reacting to the demolitions, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho expressed serious concern and criticised the Navy’s shifting policies.
“People have shown me their documents and even Naval NOCs. Now Navy says only 1.5 mtrs height is allowed. How can anyone live like that? Are we keeping people in zoo cages?” he asked.
Godinho urged the Navy to conduct a resurvey, stating that demolitions should not target civilians who followed due process. He blamed legal lapses in court representation and called the Navy’s current approach “arbitrary and harsh,” warning that continued demolitions would erode public trust in institutions.
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Fresh turbulence over funnel zone permissions
Even as the long-pending flyover issue near Dabolim Airport was amicably resolved earlier this year, a new controversy has flared up over construction activities within the sensitive funnel zone — this time involving hill-cutting by a Delhi-based firm.
On May 13, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho assured the public that the flyover project near Dabolim would not affect airport operations.
He revealed that the Indian Navy had initially raised objections, citing Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) violations involving 17 pillars of the flyover.
Following the High Court intervention, the Navy and NHAI held high-level discussions and resolved the matter. The Navy issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on April 16, and the pillars are now being modified to conform to height limits.
Godinho praised the cooperation between agencies and dismissed opposition claims that the government intended to shut down Dabolim Airport as “baseless and politically motivated.”
However, on June 18, fresh alarm bells were triggered when the All Goa Excavator Owners Association raised objections over new excavation activity within the funnel zone.
Association president Avinash Bhobe alleged that despite previous stop-work orders, the South Goa Collector had granted fresh permission for a Delhi-based company to resume work, including hill-cutting on Communidade land near the airport’s flight path — reportedly without Naval clearance.
Bhobe questioned how permissions could be issued in such a sensitive zone, especially in the aftermath of the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad. He warned that once developed, such areas would attract residential construction, waste generation, and stray birds, significantly raising the risk of bird strikes and mid-air mishaps.
Adding legal weight to the objections, Sancoale Communidade attorney Jayesh Fadte confirmed that the land in question is classified as afframent land meant solely for agriculture. “Any construction here violates Comunidade rules as well as aviation safety norms. We will take legal action to prevent misuse,” he said.
With safety in the airspace around Dabolim under constant focus, the issue has again spotlighted gaps in inter-agency coordination and enforcement. Locals and civic groups continue to demand stricter scrutiny of land use approvals near the airport’s funnel zone to avoid future tragedies.
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Builder lobby defends construction norms
In the wake of renewed scrutiny on constructions around airports following the Air India crash in Gujarat, sections of the Goa builder lobby have pushed back against what they call “unfair vilification” of buildings near Dabolim airport.
A senior builder, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while the Ahmedabad crash was tragic, buildings should not be made scapegoats for such accidents.
“The crash in Gujarat was unfortunate, but blaming the building on which the aircraft fell is not justified. People inside the building died — they were victims, not culprits. Should we now blame infrastructure for accidents? If someone crashes a bike into a lamp post, will we start banning streetlights or stop building roads? It was a tragic mishap, not a structural fault,” the builder said.
He added that while height restrictions around airports are necessary and must be enforced, using the Gujarat incident to impose blanket development restrictions near Goa’s Dabolim Airport would be unwarranted.
“People living near airports should be worried about crashes, not blamed for them,” he said.
Commenting on the Naval NOC procedures, the builder clarified that permissions around the airport — particularly within the 4 km funnel zone — are already tightly regulated.
“The Indian Navy has streamlined the process. Earlier it would take up to a year, but now NOCs are granted much quicker. The height allowance depends on the terrain — buildings on hillocks get less height clearance than those on lower ground. Everything is calculated to avoid violations in the direct flight path,” he explained.
He also pointed out that while DGCA guidelines earlier stipulated a 20-km radius for height regulation, the Navy reduced the operational zone for NOCs to just 4 km, offering builders and residents some relief.
“We hope the Ahmedabad crash doesn’t reverse the progress we’ve made. The system is working — let’s not punish people for an accident they had no role in causing,” he concluded.
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Mishaps not new to Dabolim airport
The safety of flight operations at Goa’s Dabolim airport has long been under scrutiny, with a series of incidents over the past two decades pointing to systemic vulnerabilities in and around the facility. Here’s a timeline of some major incidents highlighting operational and safety concerns:
NAVAL AIRCRAFT CRASHES
BIRD STRIKES
STRAY ANIMAL INTRUSIONS
