Much before the assembly elections were announced this week, the state government proposed allotment of immigration staff for the international operations. But with model code of conduct in force now, the policy decision on the immigration staff and the expense to be borne by the state government is now in the domain of the new government to be formed after the elections.
Sources said the state government had sent a proposal to city police commissioner for allotment of 68 immigration staff to handle the immigration functions at the airport on October 6. Though, the city police had reverted pro-actively, the state government failed to take steps to conclude the move in this regard.
There were clear directions from Prime Minister's Office (PMO), civil aviation ministry and ministry of home affairs to the state government to take over the immigration functions.
The ministry of home affairs, Government of India has stated that the process of declaration of Surat airport as an authorized immigration checkpost would be initiated only on the receipt of positive response from the state government.
Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) had written to bureau of immigration for providing immigration facility at Surat airport for commencement of international flights in May 2017. In its reply, the bureau of immigration conveyed its inability to provide requisite manpower and said the state government will have to provide necessary manpower and infrastructure required.
"Now that the assembly elections have been announced and model code of conduct is in force, there will be no policy decision on allotment of immigration staff. Hence, we will have to wait till the new government is formed and assumes office in January 2018," member of 'We Work For A Working Airport at Surat' Linesh Shah said.
Shah added, "The communication from the Centre regarding the immigration staff allotment to state government was going on since June 2016. However, the state government woke up on October 6 and directed the city police to allot immigration staff. It could have acted on the proposal much before the elections were announced."
by via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India
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