Govt undertaking revamp of aviation security activities

The government is undertaking a revamp of the entire gamut of activities relating to aviation security, including restructuring of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and decisions would be taken after they are approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

A series of proposals in this regard have been made by the Civil Aviation Ministry which were being vetted by the Union Home Ministry. A Committee has also been set up in the Civil Aviation Ministry to decide on the installation of full- body scanners at Indian airports.

"After the Home Ministry clears these measures, the CCS will take a final view before anything is finalised," Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said after inaugurating a two-day Regional Aviation Security Conference, being held under the aegis of UN body International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), here.

He replied in the affirmative when asked whether the proposals included restructuring of the BCAS, which lays down aviation security standards and monitors implementation of security rules and regulations, even through mock exercises.

India has recently successfully undertaken audit of all major aviation security activities, including air cargo security, he said.

To questions relating to installations of body scanners as in the US, Ravi said, "Need is being felt to introduce this technology in India. Some experimentation is being carried out on Delhi.

"But there are several issues, including medical and privacy, which have to be dealt with. There are also questions relating to efficacy and efficiency of these equipment."

He said a Committee has been set up to go into these issues. "We will have to be very careful before taking any decision. All aspects have to be carefully considered," he said, adding that "nothing has been finalised so far."

In this context, the US government is bringing a law to forbid the posting of an airline passenger's full-body body scanner image on the Internet.

The proposed legislation, introduced last week in the US Congress, would criminalise any such posting and impose on violators fines of up to $1,00,000 and jail terms of up to one year, official source here said quoting reports.

Similar laws would be needed in India whenever such Advanced Imaging Technology is put in place at airports here, sources said.

Asked if any cost of introducing high-tech security gadgets would be passed on to the passengers, Ravi said, "I don't think so. It is the duty of the government to provide security."