AFTER the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Jammu in June this year, the Western Naval Command said a three kilometer radius area around the perimeter of the Mumbai naval facilities had been designated as a “no-fly zone”. All individuals and civilian organizations were prohibited from piloting aerial drones in the area for any reason, with or without permission.
The Western Naval Command (WNC) and its base are located in the Mumbai shipyard. Local police sources said on Tuesday that they did not allow any use of drones near the command.
The WNC has several rapid attack vehicles that patrol the shipyard and escort warships in and out of the shipyard. These patrollers have now been instructed to intercept the drones or shoot them if they are spotted, a naval source said.
A defense spokesperson said the use of drones is governed by guidelines issued by the Home Office, as amended from time to time. The approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) must be obtained from the Digi Sky website, and a copy of the approval letter must be submitted to Western Naval Command headquarters at least one week before an operation. scheduled flight, a press briefing said.
The Indian Navy reserves the right to confiscate or destroy any aerial drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) found flying in these areas without prior authorization. Operators who fail to comply with these guidelines are liable to prosecution under the relevant provisions of the law.
Previously, drones were prohibited near INS Hamla de Malad, the naval and Southern Command training base to which all training schools fall.
