Bajpe runway can cave in anytime

Despite concerns raised by several experts about the perilous nature of Mangalore’s Bajpe Airport following the May 22 horror crash of a Dubai-Mangalore Air India Express flight, quarrying activities, including blasting the base of the table-top hill on which the airport stands, are now threatening its very existence. The area is already highly susceptible to landslides, which could damage the airport, experts warn.

But quarry owners around Mangalore’s Bajpe Airport have been continuing their blasting and mining works despite two earlier reports—one from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) to AAI and the other from the mines and geology department to the state government—categorically warning against blasting the Bajpe hills as it could lead to catastrophic consequences for the airport as it is a highly landslide-prone area.

DNA’s visit to the site at the base of the table-top hill revealed that quarry owners were using earth-moving machinery and blasting the base of Bajpe hill almost everyday.

One quarry is situated on the slopes of the hill near Kolambe village which is just 900 metres from the airport. Besides, there are medium-sized quarries in Adyapady, Kenjar and Karambaru, while smaller quarries are functioning in Maravoor village. All these are in the vicinity of the Bajpe Airport.