DIAL adopts integrated approach to deal with bird-hit cases

With the Indira Gandhi International Airport here registering the highest number of bird-hit cases in the country, its operator — Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) — has adopted an integrated approach to deal with the menace.        

The Delhi airport witnessed 67 bird-hit cases last year — almost double than the previous years' figure of 30.        

To deal with the menace, DIAL has increased the number of bird chasers from 25 to 50 per shift every day on the shoulders of the three runways.        

Apart from it, they have procured equipment and devices like zon guns, visual scarecrows such as silver flutter reflective tapes which are installed on runway shoulders, distress call-based scarecrows like 'scarecrow premier' and 'scarecrow ultima' mounted on special 'follow me' vehicles and other vehicles to scare away birds from the airport's periphery.        

Bird controllers and inspectors patrol on the airside to reduce bird and animal activities by using signal pistols and fire crackers.        

"For this, we have procured 12 bore guns, four signal pistols, and seven laser torches in addition to fire crackers of varying decibels and ranges used to scare away birds from flight path of aircraft inside the airport," a DIAL spokesperson told PTI.

A separate cell under the guidance of an ornithologist has been set up to minimise bird activity at the airport and as part of habitat management, the vegetation on airside has been cut well below 6 inches as per ICAO standards, the spokesperson said.     

Also, all the low lying areas which cause water-logging and subsequently attracts birds and animals have been filled and drains desilted and cleaned up. Bird activity also increases during monsoons.     

The airport operator has also taken up the issue of bird attracting areas in buffer zone of airport with the civic bodies concerned through airfield environment management committee.     

Last year, the committee found that several illegal slaughterhouses in the airport area were attracting birds. It was decided that these slaughterhouses be shut down with immediate effect and civic agencies take appropriate action.     

Officials have highlighted six critical areas of Dwarka, Indira Market in R K Puram, Mehram Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Dabri More and Gazipur, where illegal slaughterhouses are located.