Bhubaneswar: To get rid of stray cattle, dogs and birds around Biju Patnaik International Airport, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a special campaign. As part of this drive, the BMC squad caught seven stray dogs Friday and two days earlier it seized four stray cows.
Two days ago, the local airport authority had urged the civic body to make the vicinity of the airport free from stray animals and birds that are always posing threat to aircraft operations. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the BMC has immediately launched a special drive.
It is common practice for cow owners to let their cattle loose near the airport to graze. Such practice poses danger to aircraft movements as the animals can inadvertently move towards the operation area. BMC Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement Abani Pattnaik admitted that cattle grazers are taking their animals wilfully to the area close to the airport and such practice is illegal.
To address the problem, the BMC, apart from forming squads to catch stray cattle, is going to prepare a list of people who are keeping cows in the surrounding areas of the airport. They will be under the BMC scanner. If they are found to be sending their cows to the nearby airport areas for grazing, action would be taken against them.
Besides stray animals, birds hovering around the airport area is another serious problem for both the civic body and the airport authority.
The problem is ascribed to several meat and fish shops near the airport areas which attract birds. In recent past, non-veg vendors were evicted from the locality. But the problem is continuing. “These vendors are habitual offenders. They return to their business some days after eviction drive,” locals alleged.
And to get the airport areas free from these fish and meat vendors, BMC has formed a team of environmental engineers from its Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) cell. The cell is keeping a tab on environment impact analysis at the airport area in relation to sanitation and solid waste management. The team of officials pays regular visits and submit reports on the solid waste management status, selling of meat or fish illegally in the airport area.
While the drive against stray cattle and dogs shall continue for a few more days, the eviction drive against the illegal fish and meat vendors would be made more frequent, a BMC official said.
PNN
