If a tragedy ever strikes a plane landing at or taking off from Dabolim, chances are that it will land in one of the numerous garbage heaps, that could have caused the tragedy in the first place. In a relatively safe defence airport like Dabolim, the only threat to an airplane is from a species which inspired man to make airplanes- birds.
Birds are emerging as a major threat to flight operations at the Dabolim International Airport. Concerned over the looming danger, the naval authorities as well as Airport authorities has made several requests to the state administration seeking immediate intervention to alleviate the menace of garbage around the airport so as to curb the movement of birds in the airspace, in turn preventing bird-hits. Notably, every second day, a bird-hit incident occurs at the airport, damaging not only civilian aircrafts but even naval aircrafts. In the last month, two major bird-hit incidents have been reported, leaving flights grounded at the airport.
The bird menace is primarily due to the garbage strewn around the vicinity of the airport. The concerned officials are yet to use these incidents as a wake up call in order to tackle the menace on a priority basis. One can still find piles of garbage around Dabolim, despite the fact that Dabolim MLA, Mauvin Godinho, Vasco MLA, Carlos Almeida, MLA and Environment minister, Alina Saldanha and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar have raised concerns on different platforms at regular intervals. However, effective solutions are yet to see the light of day.
The Airfield Environment Management Committee debates the issue of bird-hits at every meeting. Even naval authorities from Goa have been making repeated requests to the state government asking for a solution. In a routine effort, this year as well a letter was sent to the Chief Secretary of Goa with details of garbage dumping sites close to the airport.
Like in the past, after receiving the letter, the issue was taken up on priority with the South Goa collector, Sachin Shinde who held a series of meetings with Panchayat officials from Mormugao taluka and administrations officials. The modalities of garbage disposal system adopted were discussed by the panchayat neighbouring Dabolim airport and the panchayat that falls under the flying zone. This meeting was followed by joint site inspections and review meetings. However, a permanent solution to eliminate garbage is yet to see the light of day. Local bodies are helplessly dependent on the government to provide them with a treatment plant to reduce the garbage menace.
As per records, over 20 meetings of state officials along with local bodies have taken place in the last two years. The Navy, on the other hand is also proactively reminding the state government about its duties to eliminate garbage around the airfield. Ultimately though, the goal is yet to be achieved as the menace continues to haunt air traffic entering and exiting the airport. It is as though we are waiting for a disaster to occur or for people to lose their lives before taking action.
“We have been told to take action against people found dumping garbage along the road. We’ve also been advised to streamline the door to door garbage collection system. There are a lot of solutions but nothing is done about them. If we (the panchayat neighbouring Dabolim airport) obtain a garbage treatment plant and if the government gives us enough funding to handle garbage collection, a majority of the menace will be reduced. Holding meetings without results is useless,” said Francisco Nunes, a panch member of Chicalim Panchayat. Nunes has been actively working to eliminate garbage. “Giving instructions is easy but when it comes to actually helping, no one, not even the AAI, Navy or officials from the state administration come forward,” he complained.
Till date, the issue of bird-hits has been unresolved due to various pending solutions not being implemented. There is, however, no stop to the political blame game. A concrete solution is of prime importance, not baseless talk.
