Animal slaughter near Navi Mumbai airport raises concern

Mumbai: The horrific plane crash in Ahmedabad has once again drawn attention to the illegal open slaughter of animals near the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), despite a standing advisory from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to curb bird-attracting activities near airports.

An NGO has reiterated its concerns about the open sale and slaughter of mutton and chicken in Ulwe—just within a three-kilometre radius of the NMIA runway—accusing local authorities of ignoring DGCA norms.

They’ve urged the DGCA to take urgent action, warning that such activities attract birds like kites, increasing the risk of bird strikes.

While DGCA director Amit Gupta had earlier stated that the aerodrome operator was advised to act, no concrete steps have been taken.

Although a recent NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) from the Airports Authority of India cited multiple operational hurdles at NMIA—including 225 physical obstacles—the issue of bird hazards from illegal slaughter remains notably absent.

The Maharashtra government, through CIDCO’s Aerodrome Environment Monitoring Committee, has banned slaughter activities within a 10-km radius of NMIA, but enforcement remains lax.