DGCA asks Navi Mumbai International Airport to stop slaughter near airport amid fears of bird strike on aircraft

Navi Mumbai: Amid activists’ repeated concerns over bird strike threats to aircraft due to illegal open slaughtering of animals near the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked the airport operator to stop all activities that attract bird activity in the vicinity of the project.

This assumes significance as the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is set to be operational within a month.

NatConnect Foundation Director B N Kumar filed a complaint with the DGCA way back on February 24 through the Prime Minister’s public grievance portal against unchecked slaughtering of goats and chicken at Ulwe, barely three km from the airport runway as the crow flies.

“This is a flagrant violation of the aircraft norms that the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which stipulates that there shall be no slaughter of animals within 10 km radius of any airport,” Kumar pointed out in his complaint.

In fact, this DGCA norm is a prominent part of the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Maharashtra Government while appointing the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) for the NMIA.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO), which heads the AEMC, administers the Ulwe node. Despite repeated complaints, the action from CIDCO so far has been less than cosmetic as some shops were demolished and they sprang back as if with vengeance, said Santosh Kate, president of Ulwe city NCP (Ajit Pawar).

He has written to CIDCO, the Raigad district collector and other officials against the menace of open selling of goat mutton and chicken meat, throwing to the winds all norms of hygiene.

It is also risky these days due to bird flu and GBS virus threats. It is shocking that the officials have been turning a blind eye to the blatant violations, he said.

Responding to NatConnect's complaint, DGCA director Amit Gupta said “The Aerodrome Operator has been advised to take necessary steps to stop all activities, including slaughtering of animals, which attract bird activity in the vicinity of aerodrome”.

“It is astonishing that the DGCA has taken over two months to respond, that too after two reminders, on such a critical issue,” Kumar regretted.

Initially, A X Joseph, Director Air Safety, informed NatConnect that the concerns raised have been forwarded to the Aerodrome Directorate of DGCA.

With no news of further development, the activist sent a protest note on April 13 stating that “it is astonishing and rather disturbing that even after two months of alert citizens raising their voice of concern about these illegal animal slaughter and sale of mutton and chicken meat, the authorities remain unconcerned as the business thrives even today on a much-enlarged scale. And the airport in question will soon be functional.”

Local citizen Karan Chawla, who has also taken up the issue with the Chief Minister, said about 15 to 30 goats are illegally slaughtered daily at sector 19 in Ulwe. The complaint has been forwarded to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr I S Chahal and Urban Development-II Secretary Govind Raj.

With the DGCA stepping in, the activists expressed the hope that action will be taken.

The activists suggested a proper slaughter house in Navi Mumbai with strict adherence to hygiene and other safety norms for the benefit of non-vegetarian food lovers.