Delhi High Court addresses bird strikes at IGI Airport

The Delhi High Court has taken notice of a petition regarding the rising number of bird strikes at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi. The petition, filed by activist Gauri Maulekhi, highlighted 705 bird strikes between 2018 and 2023, which is higher than the combined total of 654 bird strikes at 29 airports in six other states. The number of bird strikes in Delhi has increased sharply since 2022, with 183 incidents reported that year alone. In comparison, there were 94 bird strikes in 2021 and 62 in 2020. The petition noted that wildlife strike incidents at IGI exceed those at Mumbai and Bengaluru airports during the same period. Maulekhi stated that the main cause of these bird strikes is the presence of slaughterhouses, meat shops, and dairy farms near the airport, as well as environmental pollution. She pointed out that operating these slaughterhouses within 10 kilometers of the airport goes against several laws, making it a punishable offense. The petition stressed that bird strikes are dangerous, not only for passengers but also for residents living nearby. It urged the court to take immediate measures to reduce bird strike risks and implement a Bird Avoidance Model at IGI. The petition also called for inspections of meat shops that illegally operate within the restricted zone and for penalties to be imposed on them. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 14 and has issued notices to several authorities, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.