The Bombay high court on Tuesday said it would pass a comprehensive order directing the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) and the Directorate of Civil Aviation to close down illegal slaughterhouses and to properly regulate the ones having licenses within the 10-kilometre radius of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The court's move is meant to tackle the instances of airplanes hitting birds near the airport.
The Bombay high court on Tuesday said it would pass a comprehensive order directing the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC) and the Directorate of Civil Aviation to close down illegal slaughterhouses and to properly regulate the ones having licenses within the 10-kilometre radius of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The court's move is meant to tackle the instances of airplanes hitting birds near the airport.
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A K Menon said "This is a serious issue and needs final hearing but the interim reliefs sought in the petition of regulating the slaughter houses should be granted."
The counsel for BMC told the court that a meeting with all the authorities concerned was held on February 15, and the BMC was regularly taking action. The BMC counsel argued that the DGCA should take action as it has powers under Rule 91 of the Indian Aircrafts Act.
The court then rebuked the BMC by saying that "It (DGCA) has better things to do." The court was also informed by the Union government that there was an amendment in the Indian Aircrafts Act and accordingly littering within the 10-km radius is now a cognizable offence.
The court sought further clarification from the government on whether a complaint with the police can be filed, or what procedure needs to be followed. Accordingly, the court adjourned the hearing to Friday.
The direction was given during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Datta Mane. The petitioner has stated that inaction on the part of the civic body to keep the areas in the vicinity of the airport clean compelled him to approach the court. According to data available with the air traffic control, 65 cases of bird hits were reported in 2013-14 (up to August) as against 52 cases during 2012-13.
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