NEW DELHI: The M.K. Kaw Committee, set up to review the role of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Tuesday recommended that there was no need to create a "plethora of regulatory agencies in the field of civil aviation."

The six-member panel, headed by the former Civil Aviation Secretary, M.K. Kaw, said the Government needed to finalise its civil aviation policy and give it a statutory basis. It favoured statutory notification of the DGCA as the sole apex body for safety and economic regulation of the sector, which should act as a catalyst for the growth of the manufacturing sector.

The voluminous report of the Kaw panel, set up in August last, was submitted to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel here on Tuesday. Mr. Patel said the Ministry would examine the report in detail and take steps for its implementation.

Safety is major concern

"As the civil aviation sector is growing at a fast pace, we also have to find solutions to many problems being faced by it. Besides witnessing high volumes in domestic and international traffic, increased benefits to flyers and safety concerns remain uppermost for us and we have to follow the best international practices. Safety is of paramount concern. We want the Indian skies to be much safer and we also want the DGCA to play a much larger role to play."

The panel said the DGCA should liberalise its regulatory framework to give a greater fillip to the already burgeoning civil aviation sector. There should be a national civil aviation advisory committee to lay down the policy and review it periodically. It also recommended the creation of an Indian civil aviation service to man the various positions in the DGCA. It also favoured setting up a central air university, State air universities, a DGCA training academy and tighter supervision over flying training schools.

Sufficient budget

"DGCA should be given a sufficient budget and have clear cut administrative and financial autonomy through a DGCA council and its empowered committee," the committee said. It favoured the streamlining of DGCA procedures for grant of clearances to flight schedules, licensing of airlines and personnel.

Replying to queries, Mr. Patel said the national civil aviation policy had been sent to the Union Cabinet for approval . "I am hopeful that the Cabinet will give its nod within a month or so." Similarly, the proposal to set up an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority on the lines of those in the power and telecom sectors was also at an advanced stage.

Jet-Sahara deal

On the Jet-Sahara deal, Mr. Patel said it was for the first time that such an acquisition was taking place. The aviation sector would witness mergers, consolidations and acquisitions similar to those in other growing sectors. The Government would adhere to procedures on the Jet-Sahara deal though the most crucial approval would come from the Home Ministry, which would give security clearance.

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