The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued urgent orders to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) authorities to immediately stop illegal animal slaughter taking place near the airport premises. This directive comes amid rising concerns that open slaughter of goats and chickens in the nearby Ulwe area is attracting large numbers of birds, significantly increasing the risk of bird strikes to aircraft.
According to officials, bird strikes pose a serious safety hazard to flights during takeoff and landing. With the airport expected to begin full operations soon, any such threats to air travel security are being taken seriously.
The complaint was first raised by B.N. Kumar, director of the environmental group NatConnect Foundation, who filed a formal grievance through the Prime Minister’s public grievance portal on February 24. In response, the DGCA directed airport officials to eliminate all bird-attracting activities around the runway zone.
Notably, Ulwe, located just 3 km from the runway, has seen a rise in animal slaughter activities. Authorities now fear that the presence of blood, meat, and waste in the open is luring scavenging birds like kites and crows, endangering flight operations.
This move by DGCA is part of wider efforts to ensure the Navi Mumbai airport adheres to international aviation safety standards. As the airport gears up for its commercial launch, the aviation authority has emphasized that environmental management is crucial for long-term operational safety.
Illegal slaughter near NMIA has triggered safety concerns about bird strikes. DGCA has taken swift action to mitigate the risk and maintain safety standards before the airport becomes fully operational.
