Aero India: dhabas, meat stalls to remain closed till February 11

Earlier, the authorities demolished nearly 1,000 fish ponds

After demolishing more than 1,000 catfish ponds around the Yelahanka Air Force Station, where Aero India 2013 is set to be held from February 6, the district administration and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have ordered closure of all dhabas and meat stalls in the vicinity.

This is to ensure that the event goes off without any hitch.

Fish ponds rearing catfish, which is banned in India, have been demolished, while dhabas and meat stalls will remain closed till February 11. These measures have been taken to prevent bird hits during the aero show.

According to Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban) G.C. Prakash, there were around a 1,000 fish ponds in and around the Air Force Station.

“All these fish ponds were rearing catfish. The fish were fed with animal entrails that were attracting the scavenger birds. These birds were even sighted sitting by the runway,” he said.

The district administration took up a four-day drive and demolished all the ponds. Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed to provide security, as there was resistance from the fish breeders.

Mr. Prakash said that the district administration had banned the dumping of garbage in the 10-km radius around the Air Force Station. Three teams had been formed to go around the villages coming under a 25-km radius to ensure that the fields are not set on fire, besides monitoring the dumping of waste. “These measures were taken after the Air Force personnel expressed concerns,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BBMP has directed the dhabas and meat stalls to remain closed till the end of the show. Senior BBMP officials from the Yelahanka zone recently met the owners of 14 dhabas on the highway leading to the Air Force Station. “The owners have given it in writing that they would voluntarily remain closed till the end of the air show,” he said.

Another official said that meat stalls in a five-km radius around the Air Force Station have been directed to remain closed till February 11.

The other precautionary measures taken included booking 20 beds each in four hospitals in the vicinity, besides stationing a team of 30 doctors and 18 ambulances on site. Four battalions of the National Disaster Management Force have arrived in the city.