‘Seaplane’ landing at Odisha’s Chilika: FIR lodged over unauthorised flying

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 17, 2018 at 6:01 PM Updated On : Sep 19, 2018 at 9:05 AM

Chilika: A day after media reported ‘seaplane’ landing at the Chilika Lake, the development authorities today lodged an FIR alleging unauthorised flying over ‘No Flying Eco Sensitive Zone’ endangering human life and wildlife.

The FIR was registered by Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) Binod Acharya at Marine Police Station in Arakhkuda.

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He alleged that one white coloured chopper was spotted at about 1.30 pm on September 15 flying over Chilika Lake area with huge sound and attempted to land in that locality of Arakhkuda and nearby villages.

“The local people, tourists and fishermen became frightened of such act by the pilot and inmates of the chopper. Such unauthorised flying over ‘No Flying Eco Sensitive Zone’ is causing hovering over the water making the atmosphere noxious and fouling the Chilika Lake water, damaging the navigation route,” the complaint read.

He alleged that such activities are endangering the life and property of tourists, fishermen, locals and fish population including dolphin.

The FIR was lodged just a day after a leading vernacular media reported seaplane landing on Chilika water that created panic among the locals.

According to media report, the villagers around the Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, were panicked after hearing loud noise coming out from the seaplane flying in the sky and it landed on the water at Chilika sea mouth on Saturday afternoon.

Sources said that neither the local administration nor police were informed about seaplane landing and purpose behind it.

The seaplane landed at 1.30 pm at Nanganashi Mouth of Chilika and it was creating loud noise. The plane took off in 10-15 minutes after staying on water in floating position.

The unauthorised flying of an alleged chopper over Chilika Lake was reported just days after Centre cancelled the proposed water aerodrome project at Chilika Lake following criticism from various quarters.