Patna: Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command, Prayagraj, called on Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan, Patna, and held discussions on strengthening civil-military cooperation, joint utilisation of Bihta airfield and further enhancing coordination between the Indian Air Force and Bihar govt, a spokesperson of the ministry of defence said on Friday.“Discussions also covered the enhancement of disaster-response preparedness and advancement of shared objectives related to regional security and public welfare,” the spokesperson, Wing Commander Debartho Dhar, said in a statement.During the interaction, Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry extended an invitation to the governor to visit Air Force Station at Bihta.The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian Air Force and Bihar govt to maintaining close coordination and further strengthening institutional cooperation, the statement said.Earlier on Wednesday, Bihar govt’s home department principal secretary Pankaj Kumar held a meeting through videoconferencing to resolve difficulties being faced in aircraft operations at Bihta Airport.At the meeting, Group Captain Ashwini Kumar, on behalf of Air Force Station, Bihta, presented various points related to the smooth operation of aircraft. These mainly included identification of unauthorised constructions in the approach funnel of the runway of Bihta Airport and review of construction activities within a 100-metre radius from the top of the outer wall of Air Force Station, resolution of encroachment and obstruction of monsoon drains by local villagers, administrative cooperation in the allotment of land adjacent to Air Force Station, Bihta, and in the mutation of defence land, and matters related to dedicating the newly constructed 33 KV feeder line to Air Force Station.Principal secretary Kumar directed the concerned departments and officials to ensure early resolution of the problems by taking necessary action on all points. He said special attention should be given to establishing coordination among the concerned agencies and to the swift disposal of pending matters.Additional director general of police (law and order and weaker sections division) K Suhita Anupam and special secretary Kshatranil Singh, along with concerned officials, were present at the meeting.
