elvino araujo
bird strikes may not be new at the Dabolim airport, but with stray dogs invading the taxiway in a recent incident, the airport authorities have yet another animal menace to tackle.
Locals residing along the western end of the airport told Herald that garbage pits near one of the aircraft hangars has attracted stray animals, but a navy official denied this and assured that efforts would be made to prevent stray animals into the airport enclave.
On October 20, a Mumbai-Goa flight was reportedly held up at the runway, after stray dogs were found moving on the runway and taxiway.
Speaking on conditions of anonymity, an individual residing at the western end of the airport told Herald that there are naval residential quarters within the jurisdiction of the runway. “Naval families dump their garbage in one of the pits near one of the aircraft hangars,” said the person, displaying a photo of one such dumping site.
He said that stray animals could easily enter the airport enclave, given the condition of the protection wall. “A portion of the wall at the western side of Dabolim airport, which is fenced by barbed wires, is covered with creepers. Stray animals enter through the openings between the barbed wires and feed on the garbage at the dumping sites,” he said.
Other residents were quick to accept the possibility that stray dogs noticed on the runway on October 20 could have entered the airport enclave to feed on the garbage and could have strayed onto the runway.
Shortly after Herald reported the incident, airport officials had assured to investigate into the matter, but claimed that the Navy authorities would have to act in the matter as the airport is being managed by the Navy.
When asked to comment in the matter, Navy PRO Com R Krishan told Herald, “We are not aware of the incident (on October 20). No one has brought this to our notice and if at all the incident has taken place, it would have been for the first time, as naval guards monitor any movement within the airport area.”
“The entire airport is protected by a compound wall. In addition, watch towers are erected along the airport border and security guards are there to keep a strict watch on the airport to prevent anyone from wandering into the area,” Com Krishan added.
When brought to his notice that the compound wall is partly fenced with barbed wire at the western end of the airport, making it easier for stray animals to wander inside the airport premises, Com Krishan said, “If there is any opening anywhere in the compound wall, we will immediately close it to prevent stray animals from entering the naval area. We will also ask our navy security to inspect the site and ascertain the possibility of stray animals entering into the airport area.”
When the issue was brought to his notice, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, a member of the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC), admitted having read about the October 20 incident in the Herald.“During the next meeting, I will place the issue before the committee and the airport director. We will urge the airport authority to keep a strict check on this problem, as it endangers the lives of passengers,” Almeida said.
When contacted, AAC Chairman and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar assured that he would take up the issue on priority. “If such incidents go unnoticed, they could lead to a major disaster. To avoid such incidents, I will direct the airport director to ask the ground staff to be more vigilant in preventing stray animals from straying into the airport premises,” said Sawaikar.
