A meeting on this issue was held on Wednesday at the Mantralaya under the chairmanship of Shelar. Present at the meeting were BMC additional commissioners Vipin Sharma, Amit Saini, Abhijit Bangar, as well as officials from the Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Mumbai Fire Brigade.

The area within a 10-km radius of Mumbai airport including dumping grounds, mangroves and forest land attract a large number of birds, thereby posing a threat to air travel.

Incidents of bird strikes on aircraft are on the rise—20 in 2020, 35 in 2021, 36 in 2022, 60 in 2023, and 59 in 2024. Since January this year, 19 bird strikes have already been recorded. There has also been a noticeable rise in the number of migratory birds such as flamingos in the Thane creek area. Their population has surged from 10,000 in 2015 to 2 lakh in 2024.

Mumbai’s Deonar and Kanjurmarg dumping grounds, along with the Versova waste transfer centre, lie within the airport’s critical funnel zone. The presence of food waste in these areas attracts a high concentration of birds, posing a serious threat to aircraft during take-off and landing. This pressing issue was discussed in detail during a recent high-level meeting, where officials deliberated on actionable measures to mitigate the risk. Given the grave implications for aviation safety, a thorough review was conducted to assess what steps the BMC can implement. The meeting was convened in the light of the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, underlining the urgent need to enhance safety protocols at Mumbai airport.

During the meeting, BMC officials stated that they currently do not possess any technology to deter birds. However, they are exploring the use of new technologies to manage waste more efficiently, particularly to reduce wastewater, and a proposal in this regard is under active consideration.

Recognising the urgency of the issue, Shelar directed that a clear statement be formulated to guide the search for solutions. He emphasised the need to invite scientists, entrepreneurs, young researchers and startups to contribute innovative ideas. To facilitate this, Minister Shelar proposed organising a dedicated hackathon to crowdsource practical and technology-driven solutions to the problem.

The Minister further stated that any new ideas received should be tested and evaluated in collaboration with the Environment Department, the Pollution Control Board, and the Bombay Natural History Society. A comprehensive report should then be prepared based on these evaluations. To recommend effective remedial measures, an expert committee should be constituted. Alternatively, the matter may be referred to the State Airport Environment Committee (AEMC) for consultation and guidance on implementing the proposed solutions.

Additionally, Shelar emphasised the urgent need to modernise the Versova Waste Transfer Centre, which lies within the airport’s funnel zone and spans approximately 2 acres. The modernisation plan should include the construction of a shed cover, installation of an odour control system, and deployment of a mobile compaction unit. He instructed that tenders be issued within the next 15 days and that the work commence without delay.

The Airport Environment Committee (AEMC), responsible for addressing critical issues such as bird strikes in the airport’s funnel zone, last met in April 2024. No subsequent meetings have been held, a point noted by the Airports Authority during the recent review meeting. In light of this, Shelar stated that a formal request will be made to the environment minister to convene the AEMC meeting at the earliest.

The committee comprises Secretary of the Environment Department, the District Magistrate, officials from the BMC and senior airport authorities.