The Lucknow airport authorities have sought a ban on laser lights and kite flying within a 10-kilometre radius of the airport and removal of meat shops in the vicinity to address concerns over flight safety, officials said on Tuesday.
The requests were made during a meeting of the Airport Environment Management Committee, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Roshan Jacob at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Auditorium, amid heightened sensitivity following recent air safety incidents, including the Ahmedabad air crash.
Airport authorities informed the divisional commissioner that a letter had been sent to the police commissioner of Lucknow, seeking a ban on kite flying and use of laser lights around the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.
Jacob directed the concerned departments to act promptly and assured airport officials of full support from the government to ensure smooth and safe operations.
Officials said 4 to 5 meat shops had been identified in the vicinity of the airport and called for their removal, citing the danger posed by birds attracted to such establishments.
Meat shops attract birds like kites and crows, which can pose a threat to aircraft during take-off and landing. Airport authorities should also conduct awareness drives to educate nearby residents, an official statement said.
The divisional commissioner directed the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) to ensure immediate removal of these shops. She also instructed the LMC to sterilise street dogs around the airport and remove towers or stair structures atop high-rise buildings near the runway approach path, terming them as potential obstructions.
The meeting was attended by officials from the airport, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Lucknow Development Authority, state forest department, and other departments.
Similar safety measures are being implemented at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Airport Director Puneet Gupta said the emergency response system is fully active and an agency has been appointed to manage bird hazards.
“An agency has been tasked with ensuring protection from birds. The airport administration has also installed firecrackers, sound guns, and sonic boom equipment to scare birds away,” Gupta said.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
