Birdbrains beat Ahmedabad airport

Ahmedabad: The matter of keeping the area surrounding the Sardar Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad garbage-free -- to avoid drawing birds which pose an airborne threat to flights taking off and landing -- has been on the authorities' radar for at least a decade.
However, a solution for this is yet to be found, even after a series of meetings between officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
It is believed that the increasing number of birds in the vicinity of the airport can be attributed to the absence of an effective solid-waste management system, as the waste, which is consequently thrown in open grounds, lures the birds to the area.
Now, with the aim of finding a solution for the problem, and also to understand the residents' grievances, the AMC has planned to hold discussions with those living along the periphery of the airport. On Monday, officials of the civic body will meet the residents of these areas, specifically to enquire into the reason for them not dumping their garbage in the bins provided.
The official said that the meeting is being conducted to hear out the citizens' complaints, so as to fashion a solution for their problems.
The AMC has, meanwhile, begun cleaning the areas around the airport and has sealed two butcher shops. "There are around 10 such shops selling meat in the areas, and we have sealed two of these," an official of the municipal corporation said. It is pertinent to note that it is illegal to run butcher shops within 15 km of an airport, yet these shops are operational in the surrounding areas.
22/11/09 Niyati Rana/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Nov 2009