Airport: Government to ‘clip wings’

The State Government will intensify measures to keep the City airport free from avian menace.

It has been decided at a high-level meeting that buildings of airport will be made pigeon-proof and abattoirs around the airport area shifted to safe locations.

Presiding over the meeting here recently, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik asked the commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to put in place a dedicated mechanism for ensuring daily clearing of garbage around airport area.

It was also decided that abattoirs and meat and fish retailers will be sensitised about the problem and asked not to throw the bio-remnants in open places which attract birds.

The issue of overgrown trees along the boundary wall of the airport was also discussed. A few such trees with luxuriant growth are having nests of some birds. It was decided that the branches of such overgrown trees, leaning towards the airport area, will be trimmed to check birds flying in and around the airport. 

The Chief Secretary requested the airport authorities for taking immediate steps to plug all holes in the boundary wall of airport to check entry of jackals and dogs which often come onto the runway. They were also advised to clean the bushes which provide hiding place for jackals.

The BMC in coordination with airport authorities will take up awareness campaign among slum-dwellers in Palaspali and Kargil Road area regarding potential hazards of garbage thrown in open. They will be persuaded not to throw in open food remnants and other garbage that attract birds.

The meeting also decided to operate one mobile medical van with modern facilities and medicines within five to 10 km radius of the airport for providing medical services to old and infirm people at their doorstep. This unit will be operated in partnership between the State Government and airport authorities. The Health and Family Welfare Department was asked to find out the modalities of the initiative.

Home Secretary UN Behera, BMC Commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra, Director AAI, Bhubaneswar, Sarad Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitinjit Singh and other senior officers participated in the discussions.