At a meeting held on Saturday, chaired by West Bengal’s Home Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, who also leads the AEMC, strategies to improve airspace safety were discussed. The session was convened by Dr. Pravat Ranjan Beuria, Director of Kolkata Airport.
According to Beuria, there have been 18 reported bird strikes at the airport between January 1 and November 7 this year, which he described as a worrying trend. The airport is surrounded by five municipalities, and the AEMC has called on all local civic bodies to step up their efforts to manage waste and reduce the attraction for birds.
In a statement on X, Kolkata Airport confirmed, “Ensuring safe skies! The Principal Secretary, West Bengal Govt. chaired the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) meeting at #KolkataAirport to address bird activity concerns. Effective strategies were discussed to enhance airspace security.”
“Ensuring safe skies! The Principal Secretary, West Bengal Govt. chaired the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) meeting at #KolkataAirport to address bird activity concerns. Effective strategies were discussed to enhance airspace security. pic.twitter.com/MxR6RfHcsH
— Kolkata Airport (@aaikolairport) November 9, 2024
Garbage dumps, open drains, fish markets, butcher shops, and discarded food are known to attract birds, which pose a serious hazard to aircraft safety. The committee also suggested raising awareness among the local population about the dangers of bird activity near the airport.
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In the meeting, Chakravorty emphasised the need for regular garbage removal, cleaning of drains, and trimming of trees around the airport to prevent bird-related disruptions. “Discussions were held on environmental issues related to the airport, such as maintaining cleanliness and curbing activities that endanger aircraft safety,” Beuria said.
Madhyamgram Municipality was acknowledged for its swift and regular garbage cleaning efforts, with all members praising their work. Chakravorty advised the other municipalities to adopt similar measures to tackle the issue effectively.
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The committee addressed concerns regarding laser light interference in the vicinity of the airport. It was decided that police would take strict action against such incidents, which have been known to disrupt pilots during flight operations. Last year, pilots reported eight to nine such laser-related incidents.
