Jackals endangering flight safety at Kolkata airport

KOLKATA: Last week a jackal strayed onto the runway of the N S C Bose International Airport here forcing the pilot of an aircraft to abort take off and delayed two incoming flights.

The jackals as well as birds are attracted to garbage dumped from markets in areas surrounding the airport which pose a danger to air safety.

Adding to the problems is the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)'s recent ban on using guns and firecrackers to scare away birds and animals from the airport premises.

The problem was discussed at a meeting of the Airfield Environment Committee headed by West Bengal home secretary G D Gautama with officials of the local civic bodies around the airport and the Airports Authority of India two weeks ago.

"Garbage attracts birds and animals, including jackals and wildcats causing trouble for airport operations," airport Director R Srinivasan said.

"Steps have been taken to keep the area adjacent to the airport clean and free from garbage," he said.

Cages have been set up by the forest department inside the airport to trap jackals.

"We are keeping in touch with forest department officials. Recently some jackals and wildcats have been caged," Srinivasan said.

The BCAS recently relaxed its directive on use of firecrackers to scare away birds and animals at the airport.

It, however, stipulated that firecrackers when used should be done in the presence of the Central Industrial Security Force, which is incharge of the security of the airport.

Airport sources said the relaxation has not helped matters much. The sources also said though a few jackals were trapped in cages, it was not proving to be effective.

"Since jackals are clever animals, they have understood the danger to them and avoid the cages," sources said
.