VASCO: Following a Herald report on illegal shanties and garbage menace right under the flight path, Panchayat Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho along with Chicalim Sarpanch Sebastiao alias Seby Pereira, Panch member Marie Mascarenhas and other officials inspected the site and ensured that the illegal shanties is removed in their presence, on Thursday.
After visiting the site, Mauvin raised serious concerns over the presence of shanties as well as garbage under the flight path saying the same can be most disastrous for the aircraft as birds can be seen flying right within the flight path.
During the inspection, Mauvin found that a contractor was carrying out some soil testing work and the shanties were used to accommodate his labourers. It was also revealed that the labourers occupying these shanties cook food at the site and then throw their waste in open which in turns attract birds and could lead to bird hits.
“I was shocked to see the way these shanties were erected right under the flight path and in the area where flights comes down very close while landing. This is very serious and cannot be tolerated. I have already issued directions to the people to remove these shanties immediately clear the site and they have even started removing the shanties. If they don’t move from here or try to come back, then, they will be put behind the bars,” Mauvin said.
Mauvin said that when he questioned the labourers who allowed them to take up the soil test, they gave the name of a big company. “I want to know whether they have any permission or authorisation for such work and therefore I have asked them to come with permissions to the Panchayat or to me and only then we will see what we can do about the works in future but by no means such small shanties are going to be allowed at this spot which is landing zone. By allowing these shanties garbage is generated and we have seen birds flying in the flight path which is very serious and moreover disastrous,” he said.
Mauvin said that he would also soon call for a joint meeting to discuss and decide about dog menace and bird hits at the airport.
