Chandigarh, Nov 2 — Alarmed by the rising threat of bird strikes near Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, authorities have launched a coordinated waste management initiative covering areas in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.
At a meeting convened by the Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) on Saturday, officials decided to form a joint inspection team to carry out immediate corrective action. The decision comes less than a month after a Delhi-Chandigarh IndiGo flight was forced to return mid-landing on October 4 due to heavy bird activity near the runway.
“The link between bird movement and poor waste handling is direct and dangerous,” said Ajay Verma, CEO of the Airport Authority. “Open garbage bins and dumping sites within 10 km of the airport are attracting large flocks of birds. Ensuring cleanliness around these zones is critical for flight safety.”
The meeting was attended by MPs Manish Tewari and Malvinder Singh Kang, Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, deputy commissioners, and municipal commissioners from all three districts, along with IAF and GMADA representatives.
Mayor Sidhu said Mohali had long been requesting state assistance for proper waste disposal infrastructure. “We’ve been asking for funds to improve waste management and repair roads. A dumping site has been allotted at Samgoli near Dera Bassi, but it lacks an approach road. If the government approves, we can build it within 20 days — this will solve Mohali’s garbage issue and reduce the risk of air accidents,” he said.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari noted that the meeting achieved consensus on urgent field inspections. “All stakeholders agreed to conduct a joint review of garbage hotspots critical for aviation safety. The next progress meeting will take place after a month,” he said.
Officials said the inspection drive will cover all garbage dumping points, open disposal areas and waste hotspots around the airport to ensure they are cleaned or relocated, minimizing bird congregation near flight paths.
