The Airport Authority of India, District Administration, Forest Department and Coimbatore Corporation are working to reduce bird hits in and around the Coimbatore International Airport. From April this year, the airport has witnessed only three bird hits. In the previous years, bird hits had increased during the rainy season.
Following discussions in the earlier Airport Environment Management Committee meetings, the Forest Department recently submitted a set of recommendations to the District Collector, who chairs the committee, on reducing bird hits.
District Forest Officer (DFO) M. Senthil Kumar said that they had asked the district administration to clear the thorny bushes in the unused revenue land around the airport as it was home to dozens of peacocks and other birds. “Removing the bushes will avoid nesting and roosting of birds,” he explained.
The other recommendations include clearing building debris and grass for a width of 25 m on either sides of the airport runway and covering the open drain running through the airport.
Airport Director G. Prakash Reddy said that they were awaiting the report. When they got it they would work on the measures jointly with the Corporation, before the rainy season sets in next month. Earlier, a proposal was made to cover the drains at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.
The drain is more than 8 m wide and running on both sides of the runway for a length of 350 m. However, the idea was dropped because of the cost involved. “We have decided to cover the drain with a metal mesh as it will be more cost effective,” the Airport Director said.
He also said that they would be requesting the civic body to ensure that solid wastes were not dumped into the drain, as hospital wastes that were allegedly dumped into it were attracting birds.
