Selling non-vegetarian items in open or being involved in butchery within 10 km of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here will now cost imprisonment up to three years or a fine of `10 lakh or both.
The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued guidelines in this regard in a bid to avoid bird hit incidents at the airport.
“During takeoff and landing, aircrafts fly at a low altitude up to 5-7 km from the runway, for which there are chances of bird hit. Hence, the DGCA has instructed us to take stringent action to ensure no flying of birds within 10 km of the airport,” said BPIA Director Suresh Chandra Hota.
“There have been two incidents of bird hit this year. With arrival of monsoon, such chances are more, for which we have decided to execute the guidelines,” Hota added.
According to the Aircraft Rules, 1937, no person shall slaughter or flay any animal or deposit or drop any rubbish, filth, garbage or any other polluted or obnoxious matter including such materials from hotels, meat shops, fish shops and bone processing mills which attract or are likely to attract vultures or other birds and animals within a radius of 10 kilometer from the aerodrome reference point.
Any person or organisation violating the rule is liable to be punished up to three years in jail or a fine of `10 lakh or both.