Aranmula Airport Project: NOC from Former Defence Ministry due to Pressures from Antony

New Delhi: Latest reports reveal that former Union Defence Ministry was forced to give an NOC for Aranmula Greenfield Airport project following pressures from AK Antony. According to sources, documents revealing how the former Union Minister for Defence had exerted pressure and forced altering the original documents showing how Navy and Air Force opposed the project citing security reasons, have been procured. Antony is also said to have breached rules and regulations and convened a meeting of senior defence personnel for the same purpose.

It was in 2011 that the former defence ministry had granted an NOC towards Greenfield Airport project at Aranmula, grievously wounding the sentiments of an entire locale. The decision was taken without considering any report related to how the project would jeopardize the security of an entire nation. When confronted with statements that widespread corruption was involved in the project and that the project would put to stake the country’s security, Antony is said to have shrugged off the matter stating that “he would not interfere in the department’s technical matters.”

Antony had also sent letters to many prominent people in society, citing the same issue. However, defence documents cite that the so called partial stand adopted by Antony as nothing but farcical, as he had used his position to breech rules, regulations and parameters for granting the NOC.

Antony had convened a meeting on 12 August 2011. He had directed granting of NOC solely on the basis of a letter by Anto Antony.