Srinagar, Jul 06: In the backdrop of the recent attack on Air Force Station Jammu, authorities in north Kashmir have imposed a ban on operating drone cameras in three border districts, citing security reasons.
According to orders issued by the District Magistrates of Baramulla and Kupwara, copies of which lie with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), referred to section 144 of Cr. P.C, imposed restrictions/ban on the storage, sale, possession, use, and transport of drones/similar kinds of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs) in the territorial jurisdiction of respective districts.
The orders state that the persons already having the drone cameras/similar kind of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) in their possession, shall ground the same in the local Police Station forthwith, under proper receipt.
Moreover, the order states that the Government Departments and agencies duly authorized by the competent authorities using drones/UAVs for mapping, surveys, surveillance in Agriculture, Environment Conservation and Disaster Mitigation sector shall inform the local Police Station before undertaking any such activity in public interest.
The orders refer to the Aircraft Act, 1934 and Civil Aviation Rules 2021, saying that there is a restriction on flying drones (UAV) in prohibited areas Viz; Within a distance of 3 Kilometers from the perimeter of any Civil, Private, Defence Airport, Military installations/facilities, State Secretariat complex and Within 02 kilometer from perimeter of strategic locations/vital installation besides over Eco-sensitive Zones around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora Owais Ahmad told KNO that there are restrictions on operating drone cameras in the district that were issued some time back and a afresh ban order will be made public soon.
