DGCA launches probe into illegal slaughter, sale of goat meat, chickens near upcoming Navi Mumbai airport

NatConnect said that the open slaughter and selling of meat flourishing barely 3 km from the runway, violates the DGCA norm that bans slaughter of animals within a 10 km radius of any airport.

Navi Mumbai: The air safety wing - Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) - has launched a probe into a complaint by environmentalists against illegal slaughter in the open at Ulwe, which could pose bird strike threat to aircrafts at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in Raigad district.

NatConnect Foundation Director B N Kumar has raised an alarm against the slaughter and sale of goat meat and chickens in Ulwe, which he pointed out falls under the aircraft funnel zone.

The complaint, filed through the PMO grievance site, has been referred to A X Joseph, Director Air Safety, under the DGCA, an update on the PMO website says.

The open slaughter and selling of meat flourishing barely 3 km from the runway, violates the DGCA norm that bans slaughter of animals within a 10 km radius of any airport, NatConnect said.

In fact, this rule is a prominent part of the government resolution issued by the Maharashtra government while appointing the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) for the NMIA.

Kumar called for setting up a complaint mechanism under the AEMC, which he said should be headed by an independent official such as a former Supreme Court or High Court judge since the violations could be serious.

Also, it is important to maintain transparency as City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) faces the charges of neglecting the environmental aspects and its MD cannot be expected to head the AEMC.

Local people and activists have been raising their voice and in fact Ulwe city NCP (Ajit Pawar) President Santosh Kate has written to CIDCO, the Raigad District Collector and other officials against the menace of open selling of goat meat and chicken, throwing to winds all norms of hygiene.

“It is also risky these days due to bird flu and GBS virus threats,” Santosh said.

Activist Karan Chawla has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who duly forwarded the complaint to the additional chief secretary - home Dr I S Chahal and Urban Development-2 Secretary Govind Raj.

The open slaughter and sale of mutton also raises concerns of public hygiene, and it is not the right way to buy chicken and mutton from roadside and eat, Kumar pointed out.