Madhyamgram role model for airport safety

State home secretary Basudeb Banerjee has asked Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and North Dum Dum, South Dum Dum and New Barrackpore municipalities to emulate Madhyamgram municipality in managing its garbage. Managing the municipal solid waste at these civic areas adjoining the airport is critical to flight safety as garbage attract birds that is hazardous to aircraft.

Speaking at the airport environment management committee meeting, Banerjee told the heads of civic bodies to take lessons from Madhyamgram that had improved its waste management. "If need be, set up compactor stations," he told the municipality chairmen and Bidhannagar mayor.

Principal chief conservator of forest and chief wildlife warden Pradeep Shukla who was also at the meeting said a comprehensive plan will be prepared in conjunction with Kolkata airport authorities to deal with the jackal menace once and for all. "There is no use trapping a couple of jackals because those that remain breed. We have to locate their habitat, corner them at one go and trap them for relocation," he said. Jackals have strayed into the tarmac in the past, forcing aircraft to abort landing.

On pruning of trees along the boundary whose branches lean over the airport wall and pose a security threat as miscreants can use them to trespass, Banerjee suggested that long-term permission be granted to AAI to snip the branches instead of having to apply time and again.

The issue of drainage was also discussed. In monsoons, water needs to be flushed out of the airport grounds but with the poor drainage infrastructure in adjoining municipalities leads to waterlogging in the neighbourhood. "The municipalities have to integrate their drainage plan with the airport. But that will take time. We have to look at short-term measures to ensure that the situation improves next year," airport director AK Sharma said.