Two drain openings could give entry to small animals: Forest dept

Times of India: Surat: Tuesday, August 18, 2020.

In a startling revelation, two drain openings have been found at the Surat airport premises from where, it is believed, small wild animals such as foxes could enter the operational area. This was found during an inspection by the forest department last week.

The forest department conducted the inspection under the direction of deputy conservator of forest, Puneet Nayyar, after two dead foxes were found from the airport runway in December last year. Though no traces of wild animals were found inside the airport premises during the inspection, the forest officials have asked the airport authorities to fix mesh grills on the open drains to prevent the intrusion of wild animals.

Talking with TOI, Nayyar said, “The open drains were found on the Dumas side of the airport. These drain openings could be the possible entry for the wild animals into the operational area. Though we are yet to find out the exact route of intrusion or the wild life sighting inside the airport premises, the airport authorities have been asked to put up mesh grills on the drain openings.”

Nayyar added, “Even last year during routine inspection, the airport authorities were asked to put mesh on the drain opening. We will again visit the airport next month to review the compliance by the airport authorities.”

TOI in its report dated June 6, 2020 had published a report over the recovery of two fox carcasses at the runway in December-2019. The airport authorities had refused to share the incident report under the Right to Information Act (RTI) application filed by social activist, Rajesh Modi.

Ideally, the death of an animal listed under the scheduled category of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has to be reported to the forest department before disposal. However, the airport authorities had allegedly disposed the fox carcasses without informing the forest authorities.

Earlier, in April 2019, four jackals were spotted on the operation side of the airport and were rescued by the forest department.

“We have not received satisfactory reply from the airport authorities over the carcasses of the foxes found from the runway in December 2019. We are awaiting the reply from the authorities over the same,” said Nayyar.

When contacted Airport director, Aman Saini told TOI, “To ensure safe operations at airport, joint inspection of operational area was carried out with the team of forest officers to check wildlife and birds. No wildlife animals were sighted into the operational area. There is no openings in the airport area and it is not possible for the wildlife animals to enter through the drains.”