In an initiative to develop a waste disposal plan to prevent bird or animal strike incidents during aircraft operations, the Karipur Airport has launched a zero-waste program to make over 1,000 houses surrounding the airport waste free, reported Times of India.
Under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, authorities have provided over 1,000 houses with pipe compost units at a cost of ten lakh.
The unscientific waste disposal in nearby areas has been attracting birds posing strike threat during operations and hence director general of civil aviation (DGCA) had asked the authorities to implement a waste disposal plan.
The environment management committee of airport held a meeting with the district collector to decide an action plan to curb the illegal slaughter houses operating in vicinity.
Peter K Abraham, airport director, said, “The waste disposal at source project will cover the houses in the Nediyiruppu panchayat and will make the areas waste- free. This initiative would help in minimising the threats of bird and animal incidents. Inspections at the slaughter houses nearby have been conducted and details of unauthorized slaughter houses have been provided to concerned authorities.”
The presence of many open slaughter-houses around the airport, lack of waste management facilities leading to unscientific disposal of waste were being cited as factors responsible for the bird and animal strike, reported the news agency.
The Indian Aircraft Act prohibits the slaughter and flaying of animals and depositing rubbish within a radius of 10 km from the aerodrome reference point.
The facility has been processing 500 kg of waste generated at the airport daily using a mix of ring compost, incineration, biogas and plastic waste from this year.