BMC issued illegal licences to several slaughter houses in the last 1-1/2 years

Complains Animal Welfare Board of India
There is no permission for slaughter houses within 10 km radius of airports
HJS under its ‘Surajya Abhiyan’ drive lodges a complaint with the Union Govt

Mumbai – With the increasing incidents of bird-strikes near the main airports in India and possibility of bird-strike even in the recent plane crash at Karnavati, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) under its ‘Surajya Abhiyan’ drive has submitted a memorandum to the Union Government. It has been demanded in the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister and Central Civil Aviation Transport Minister to strictly implement rule 91 of the Aircraft Rules 1937. The Animal Welfare Board of India recently informed that Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) has granted licences to several slaughter houses in 2024-25 by violating rule 91. The Board had reported that such illegal meat shops were attracting birds, posing danger of bird-strikes to aircrafts flying in air.

What is Rule 91 of Aircraft Rule 1937 ?

Under Rule 91, setting up slaughter houses, meat shops and throwing trash is prohibited within a 10 km radius of any airport.

Important points raised in the memorandum submitted by ‘Surajya Abhiyan’

1. The memorandum has been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian Airport Board, Maharashtra Government, CIDCO, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), senior officers of Navi Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Urban Development, Home and Environment Department.

2. They have demanded to examine the violations of Aircraft rules and immediately intervene to protect air transport and people’s lives.

3. As per the data of Directorate General of Civil Aviation, there were 1152 incidents of bird-strikes reported in 2020 which increased to 1466 in 2021.

4. The international civil aviation transport organisation has predicted a loss of more than US $ one billion every year. From 1988, more than 200 people have died across the world.

Important points in the complaint of the ‘Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)’

ABWI working under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has warned the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Transport, MMC and FDA that no inspection has been conducted by food security officers though it is the requirement. The board referred to the 2015 decision of Mumbai High Court wherein the high court had instructed to cancel licences of those violating aircraft security transport rules. Recently, a place slaughtering goats located at a distance within 6 – 7.5 km from the Mumbai airport, was raided by the Police on a complaint filed by an honorary animal welfare officer.

Demands made by ‘Surajya Abhiyan’ with the Government !

1. Remove all meat shops, slaughter houses and acts of attracting birds immediately set up within a 10 km radius area starting from Navi Mumbai airport.

2. Set up a central committee under the ministry of civil aviation to supervise compliance of the rules all over the country and to submit periodical reports.

3. Publish the reports on the status of compliance of the rules to restore people’s faith in the security rules of Indian air transport service.

4. Strictly implement Rule-91 to avert avoidable disasters.