Despite the Ministry of Civil Aviation revising guidelines three months ago on the formation of a new panel, the advisory committee of the Calicut international airport operating under the Airports Authority of India is yet to be reconstituted.
Several reasons, including the Lok Sabha elections in May, have been cited for the delay in reconstituting the committee.
Besides, the local MP, who is also the the chairman of the committee, has not nominated members.
The new committee should have been formed by January.
Sources said IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, the Malappuram MP, has to nominate three members from the social, political and cultural fields.
Also, the chairman has to select three members each from industry, trade, and tours and travels from separate lists furnished by the Malappuram District Collector. Reminders sent to his office has not been met with positive response, it is learnt.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation also has to directly nominate three other members. As the ex-officio member, the airport director will be the convener of the committee. The Kozhikode MP and Kondotty MLA and representatives of various airline companies and the Customs Department will be members of the committee, the sources said.
A senior AAI official said the tenure of the new nominated members will be two years. A member can be renominated again only after four years. The Ministry had revised the guidelines to bring in more transparency in the functioning of the airport.
The Ministry brought in new guidelines on the formation of the committee following complaints from various quarters that political nominees usually secured an advantage to be on the advisory panel.
The Ministry has also revised guidelines for holding meetings of committees. It has sought the suggestion of the AAI on increasing the frequency of meetings.