Mohali: Jagatpura dumps raise flight safety concerns

Gaurav Kanthwal

Mohali, July 7

Garbage piling up near the boundary wall of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport at Jagatpura has once again raised flight safety concerns but the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) is unmoved.

Despite the airport authorities having flagged the concerns several times, the MC officials have failed to take stringent steps to deter people from dumping garbage near the airport boundary at Kambala, Jagatpura and Sector 74.

On the way to Jagatpura from Chandigarh, close to the landing spot, there are several spots where local residents dump garbage. It is not lifted for weeks, leading to messy and unhygienic conditions. There are no proper dustbins near the colonies and slum areas.

Garbage, vegetable waste and meat shops in the vicinity attract birds. Airport sources said the past week-and-a-half had witnessed several flight delays, aborted take-offs and touchdowns due to the increased bird activity in the area.

Municipal commissioner Navjot Kaur was unavailable for comment.

Airport officials said incidents of bird hit were on the rise as wild growth in the monsoon season provides favourable conditions for birds.

“During monsoon, the wild growth increases around the airport, attracting birds in search of insects and food. It has always been a concern here, but the situation this season is a bit alarming. The flight safety issue is being discussed at various levels. We will soon hold a meeting with the Municipal Corporation and the Administration,” said an airport official yesterday. An airfield environment management committee identifies the sources that attract stray animals and birds in the vicinity of the aerodrome.

The guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation mandates steps to mitigate bird hits by maintaining appropriate height of grass, ensuring garbage removal, etc.

Official blames wild growth for increasing bird activity in area near airport

“During monsoon, the wild growth increases around the airport, attracting birds in search of insects and food. It has always been a concern here, but the situation this season is a bit alarming. The flight safety issue is being discussed at various levels. We will soon hold a meeting with the Municipal Corporation and the Administration,” said an airport official.