Navi Mumbai Airport Faces Bird Strike Risk Due to Meat Shops in Ulwe

NAVI MUMBAI: Green activists and local residents have raised concerns over a fresh threat of bird strikes at the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) due to the open slaughter and sale of meat in Ulwe, just 3 km from the runway.

This practice is a clear violation of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, which prohibit animal slaughter within a 10 km radius of any airport, according to NatConnect Foundation. The organization has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, highlighting this issue.

"The DGCA regulation is explicitly mentioned in the Maharashtra Government’s Government Resolution while appointing the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) for NMIA," said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect.

Kumar submitted his complaint via the PMO website and alerted CIDCO’s controller of unauthorized constructions and vigilance officer.

Local residents and activists have long voiced their concerns. Ulwe city NCP (Ajit Pawar) president Santosh Kate recently wrote to CIDCO, the Raigad district collector, and other officials, protesting against the unhygienic open sale of goat and chicken meat.

The meat shop in question is located in Sector 19, Ulwe.

“This poses a serious risk, especially in the wake of bird flu and GBS virus threats,” Kate warned.

Activist Karan Chawla has also escalated the matter, writing to the Chief Minister, who forwarded the complaint to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr. I. S. Chahal and Urban Development-2 Secretary Govind Raj. However, no concrete action has been taken so far, Chawla stated.

In light of the inaction, Chawla sought NatConnect’s intervention, given its track record of addressing environmental violations.

"It is alarming that officials continue to turn a blind eye to these violations," Kumar said. He stressed the need for a dedicated slaughterhouse in Navi Mumbai that adheres to strict hygiene and safety norms, ensuring a safer option for non-vegetarian consumers.

"It is unsafe and unhygienic to buy meat from roadside vendors," he added.

Kumar also renewed his demand for a formal complaint mechanism under the AEMC, suggesting it should be led by an independent authority, such as a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge, to ensure accountability.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for transparency, arguing that CIDCO’s track record of neglecting environmental concerns disqualifies its Managing Director from heading the AEMC.