TEAM HERALD
VASCO: In view of the recent bird hit at Dabolim airport, South Goa Collector Venancio Furtado on Monday urged the Chicalim Panchayat to ask its residents, staying in close vicinity of the airport, not to throw food waste along with the garbage in the open around the airport.
Furtado called a meeting of the airport director, naval officials and members of Chicalim Panchayat to discuss how to tackle garbage menace which is spread within 10-km radius of the airport.
Speaking to media persons, Furtado said he has directed the Chicalim Panchayat to inform its residents staying in close vicinity of the airport not to throw garbage with food waste in the open around the airport.
“Birds get attracted to the food waste found in the garbage that is dumped along the highway, due to which the flights encounter bird hits. I have also directed Chicalim Panchayat to conduct awareness drive among its residents about the effects of garbage mixed with food waste, which attracts birds and other animals,” said Furtado.
Furtado said he is also planning to conduct awareness among the school students in all the four panchayats, which falls within the radius of 10 kms from the airport, on the ill effects of garbage dumped mixed with food waste.
“We will conduct a cleanliness drive at Zuari Nagar and create awareness among the hutments asking them not to dump garbage on the roadside,” he said.
When asked what comprehensive plans the State administration has to tackle bird menace and food waste dumped along the roadside, Furtado said presently he has called only one panchayat and after taking views from other three panchayats, he will come out with a detailed plan to curb the waste food, which is presently dumped all over.
“Once the dumping of food waste is tackled, birds and other animals feeding on it will minimise,” added Furtado.
When sought to know from naval official, Captain N Thiagarajan, about the possibility of birds nesting in the hangars which at times leads to bird hit, he said they keep bird repellent jell all over the hangars, which is replaced every two to three months to avoid birds entering the hangars and when they open the hangar to take the plane out, a net is dropped at the entrance which also prevents birds entering the hangar.
“The navy uses different methods to drive away the birds. We have ‘Zon’ gun which we fire in the air and due to the loud noise, birds and other animals go away. We also use other electronic devices which make sharp sound, which also keep the birds at bay,” added Thiagarajan.
