Rampant mining threatens Mangalore airport

Bangalore: Three months after one of India's worst ever air disasters, Mangalore airport is in focus again. It may be the site of another mishap, if rampant mining under the runway isn't stopped immediately.
Laterite rocks are being mined right under the Mangalore's famed tabletop airport which is housed on a hillock. Laterite maintains soil stability. There's a huge demand for the material as it is used widely in construction.
Leo Saldanha, Coordinator, Environment Support Group, says: "If laterite rocks are removed at the wrong place it could lead to landslides and potentially destabilise the airport itself. Secondly, lot of explosives are used, so it disturbs the neighbourhood. It means more bird activity. The fact that it's a table top airport means birds can rise from anywhere around the valley and explosion can threaten aircraft with bird hits."
Bangalore: Three months after one of India's worst ever air disasters, Mangalore airport is in focus again. It may be the site of another mishap, if rampant mining under the runway isn't stopped immediately.
The Deputy Commissioner of Mangalore V Ponnuraj admits quarrying is being done near Mangalore and has been objected by DGCA. But he says the DGCA has not yet formally written a letter to them.
27/09/10 Deepa Balakrishnan Deepa Balakrishnan/CNN-IBN

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Categories: airports Sep 2010, Safety Sep 2010