With the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) set to become operational within three months, environmentalists and have raised serious concerns over illegal slaughter activities continuing within a three-kilometre radius of the airport — in violation of aviation safety norms.
"Despite a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), authorities have failed to curb illegal animal slaughter and open meat sales in Ulwe, located dangerously close to the airport runway," said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. He first filed a complaint through the Prime Minister’s grievance portal on February 24. In response, DGCA Director Amit Gupta confirmed on May 2 that the aerodrome operator had been advised to take corrective action — but none has followed, Kumar said.
The issue gained renewed urgency in light of a recent vulture strike on an IndiGo flight in Ranchi, prompting Kumar to lodge a fresh complaint with the DGCA and the Maharashtra Chief Minister, highlighting the risks posed by bird attraction near airports.
As per DGCA norms — also reiterated in the Maharashtra Government Resolution (GR) while setting up the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) — slaughter of animals is strictly prohibited within a 10-km radius of any airport. However, illegal butcher shops continue to thrive in Ulwe, falling under CIDCO’s jurisdiction, which also chairs the AEMC. “CIDCO has done little beyond symbolic demolitions. These shops bounce back overnight,” alleged Santosh Kate, president of Ulwe city NCP (Ajit Pawar).
NatConnect has demanded the reconstitution of the AEMC under the chairmanship of an environmental expert or retired judge for impartial oversight.
Meanwhile, Soorraj Saha, an honorary member of the Bombay High Court-appointed Animal Welfare Act Monitoring Committee, has also intervened. Saha wrote to the Navi Mumbai police commissioner, highlighting violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. “The improper disposal of raw meat waste attracts birds and poses a threat to aircraft,” Saha said, concurring with NatConnect’s safety concerns.
Separately, the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) under the Airports Authority of India recently issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) outlining NMIA’s operational limitations. The notice listed 225 obstacles — including buildings, hilltops, mobile towers, and floodlight poles — but notably made no mention of the illegal slaughter issue.
Kumar expressed disappointment that this serious risk was overlooked in the NOTAM and has since taken the matter up with the General Manager of AIS, who stated the issue has been forwarded to NMIAL authorities. “But the so-called concerned authorities remain unconcerned,” NatConnect observed.
Environmentalists and civic activists continue to press for immediate and strict enforcement to prevent a potential disaster once the airport begins full-scale operations.
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