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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Deepening BJP-Sena rift exposed

Mumbai: Corridors of power in Maharashtra are witnessing a growing sense of unease. Stern and quick disciplinary actions against senior bureaucrats are rare in state administration. The recent suspension of a senior IAS officer for failing to brief a minister during an ongoing assembly session has sent shockwaves through the bureaucracy. It has also laid bare the intense power struggle between ruling alliance partners, the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The controversy erupted when presiding officer...

Deepening BJP-Sena rift exposed

Mumbai: Corridors of power in Maharashtra are witnessing a growing sense of unease. Stern and quick disciplinary actions against senior bureaucrats are rare in state administration. The recent suspension of a senior IAS officer for failing to brief a minister during an ongoing assembly session has sent shockwaves through the bureaucracy. It has also laid bare the intense power struggle between ruling alliance partners, the BJP and the Shiv Sena. The controversy erupted when presiding officer Dilip Lande ordered immediate suspension of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Member Secretary M. Devendar Singh and Joint Director Satish Padwal. It is an unwritten parliamentary convention that presiding officers refrain from directing such severe administrative actions directly from the chair. However, the environment department acted with unprecedented speed. Sources indicate that the file implementing these suspension orders has already reached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office. Babus Baffled This swift administrative compliance has caused a significant flutter among top officials. Many bureaucrats feel the Fadnavis administration is setting a dangerous precedent. Others quietly admit that the officers simply became collateral damage in a fierce political crossfire. The root of this administrative crisis lies in the fraught relationship between two key political figures. The environment department is headed by BJP Minister Pankaja Munde. Meanwhile, the MPCB is chaired by Shiv Sena leader Siddhesh Kadam. The two leaders reportedly do not see eye to eye. M. Devendar Singh, the suspended IAS officer, is widely considered to be close to senior Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Rathod. During his earlier tenure as the district collector of Ratnagiri, Singh also developed close ties with powerful Sena minister Uday Samant. Bureaucratic circles suggest that Singh was appointed as the MPCB member secretary last year primarily due to strong recommendations from Samant and Sanjay Rathod. Against this backdrop, the political rivalry between Munde and Kadam reached a boiling point. According to an MPCB insider, Kadam allegedly issued oral instructions to board officials ordering them not to share any information with minister Munde or her office without his prior consent. Caught between a hostile chairman and an inquiring minister, officers naturally shied away from providing crucial briefings. Sensing this deliberate blockade of information, frustrated Munde spilled the beans on the floor of the House. She admitted her inability to answer legislators’ questions due to non-cooperative officials. The issue quickly escalated, likely beyond the minister’s own imagination. The presiding officer intervened, and the bureaucrats ultimately bore the brunt of the political dysfunction. Top officials now privately acknowledge that this entire episode is a direct outcome of the shifting power dynamics between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. This incident is not an isolated case of administrative cracking of the whip. Recently, the government initiated strict disciplinary action against an assistant charity commissioner in Gondia simply for participating in a lucky draw without prior permission from her superiors. Together, these incidents are sending a chilling message down the administrative spine. While the government attempts to project an image of strict discipline and accountability, the bureaucracy is increasingly feeling the heat of coalition politics. Officials are now acutely aware that navigating the fragile egos of alliance partners is just as critical as their administrative duties.

AAIB probe points to low visibility as a cause

Preliminary probe report says the visibility at Baramati airport was only 2000 meter against the minimum requirement of 5000 meter

Mumbai: Pointing to a stunning violation of norms, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has said that visibility at Baramati airport was only 2000 meter when the ill-fated Learjet 45XR plane carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed on January 28. The stipulated visibility rules are minimum 5000 meter for visual landings that must be strictly adhered to.


In its 22-page preliminary report into the air-disaster just minutes prior to landing of the non-scheduled flight carrying VIP, the AAIB said on that day, one of the two temporary Air Control Towers at Baramati – usually manned by ground instructors or students – was being handled by a ground instructor from a nearby flying academy.


When the ill-fated aircraft approached, the pilots asked about visibility they were informed around 3000 meter based on ground markers with calm winds and cleared the flight for landing.


However, the AAIB found that the Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) of Pune that morning showed lowest visibility of 2000 meter from 8.10 am to 8.30 am with clear skies, while satellite images indicated a shallow, patchy fog around Baramati at that time. AAIB also said that all aspects of the plane crash will be investigated to bring out facts, root causes and contributory factors.


Accordingly, the aircraft attempted to land first but did a go-around and then the crew reported sighting Runway 11 and started the second landing approach after clearance.


But, barely seconds later, something went seriously wrong and as corroborated by CCTV footage from a nearby village, the aircraft banked sharply to the right, instead of touching down on the runway, it crashed around 50 meter to the left of Runway 11, at 8.46 am.


The falling aircraft struck several trees before impacting the ground that was lower than the runway surface, it caught a major fire engulfing the cockpit and the cabin where the passengers were and the plane was completely destroyed.


Moments prior to the ground-hit, the radio recordings captured a rattling reaction from the cockpit: “Oh S..t, Oh S...t”, as it plunged to tragedy.


Negative Test

The preflight breathalyser tests for both the Pilot in Command Sumit Kapur and First Officer were negative, as per the records provided by the VSRVPL teams.


The AAIB reiterated that both the onboard recorders – the Digital Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder – were retrieved from the usual position in the tail section of the aircraft.


Both the DFDR and CV suffered intense heat damage but the raw data from the DFDR has been retrieved in New Delhi. The CVR, built by Honeywell needs specialised recovery due to the thermal damage and assistance has been sought from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in line with global aviation norms.


Attempting to cobble up the fast-paced developments – poor visibility, the missed approach, a repeat landing attempt and the fatal crash - the AAIB has not apportioned any blame nor indicated what exactly went wrong in those final few seconds over the fog-it Baramati runway.


The probe was conducted by a three-member AAIB team led by its Director General, later a 3-member team from DGCA also joined the probe, ordered under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025.


AAIB probe progress and safety counsel

The AAIB has recorded statements of the VSRVPL personnel and other key persons which are being verified against physical and technical evidence.


Crucial documents pertaining to the Learjet 45XR’s airworthiness, operations and flight safety have been seized for scrutiny, the wreckage shifted to a secure location for further investigations after on-site findings were documented.


The NTSB, US, has appointed an accredited representative along with technical advisers to join the probe, and records gathered from multiple stakeholders are under review. The AAIB stated that every aspect of the accident will be examined to establish the facts, identify the root cause and determine contributing factors.


The AAIB has also issued safety recommendations to the DGCA, urging strict enforcement of standard procedures for visual flights operating to uncontrolled airfields.


It has asked aerodrome operators to ensure flights - including private, charter and VIP operations - are permitted only when weather conditions meet prescribed safety norms.


With growing charters, private or VIP flights to such airfields, the AAIB has sought stronger oversight to ensure safety standards are maintained and regularly audited, improving landing aids and basic weather data facilities, plus examining whether such aerodromes should be formally licensed for regulated operations.


What the AAIB said?

“In view of the interim findings brought out so far, it is considered necessary to issue following interim safety recommendations so that necessary preventive actions can be taken promptly to enhance aviation safety. It is recommended that DGCA may issue necessary directions to all operators operating VFR flights to uncontrolled airfields to strictly adhere to the laid down standard operating procedures.”

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