Officials' distress call to BBMP to curb stray menace in the vicinity falls on deaf ears
Officials' distress call to BBMP to curb stray menace in the vicinity falls on deaf ears
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If the airport authorities are to be believed, then the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) has only turned a deaf ear to their pleas for help.
Alarmed at the growing menace of strays at the airport, the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) had sought the BBMP's help recently.
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It has been 10 days since the authorities wrote to the civic body, but there has been no response. Now, airport officials say that these dogs could pose a grave hazard to flights as well as passengers.
In 2009, the BBMP had gone out of its way to rid the airport of strays. It had used its funds for the operation, hoping that the airport authorities would compensate the BBMP.
However, the authorities allegedly did not do so. So this time, the civic body has flatly refused, saying that the airport is not in its jurisdiction. It has also suggested that the airport authorities hire the services of private firm to clear out strays.
Head of BIAL's aviation safety wing, Group Capt (Retd) N Krishnamurthy, wrote to the BBMP on September 17, seeking its animal husbandry division's help.
"This is not only a nuisance to the airport operations, but (it) also poses a hazard to the passengers. Any dog in the operational area could lead to major accidents.
In the past, BBMP staff made efforts to catch dogs from the vicinity, which was effective in controlling the canine population. We once again need your whole-hearted support in this regard," wrote Krishnamurthy.
Last year, the civic body went out of its way to rid the airport of strays and even used its funds for the operation. However, the airport authorities failed to compensate the BBMP for their help.
He also mentioned the close brush that a domestic flight had at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) airport in September 2008.
B Ram, executive engineer (BBMP's animal husbandry division) said, "We have received the letter but it will be difficult to appoint our workers as the airport is not in our jurisdiction. The maximum we can do is recommend an agency for removing strays."
The BBMP's jurisdiction exists only till Delhi Public School which is en-route to BIAL. BBMP PRO, SB Khandre said, "Our jurisdiction ends near DPS."
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