Crows sit on the fence of a garbage disposal site under Chitkohra railway overbridge near Patna airport on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Flier safety does not seem to be a priority despite bird-hits at the city airport.

A week ago, the responsibility of carting away garbage — which draws birds — from around the airport was given to sanitary inspectors of New Capital circle of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC). A month ago, PMC and Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted a joint survey to identify factors behind bird-hits.

The Telegraph found, on Sunday, makeshift shanties with accumulated water and stray cattle behind the office of the deputy director of AAI-Patna and IAS association building. Garbage also lay strewn along the Howrah-Delhi railway line south of the airport. All, open invitations to birds.

The PMC’s New Capital circle executive officer Vishal Anand, said: “I am taking personal initiative to prevent bird-hits. Results would show within a month.” According to him: “Accumulation of garbage in big open plots around the airport attracts birds. Sanitary inspectors have been asked to list such places. We will also survey Howrah-Delhi railway line, not in our jurisdiction, for garbage removal.”

The Airport Environment Management Committee, at its October 21 meeting, decided that a new committee comprising air traffic controller (ATC), airlines, Patna district magistrate, senior superintendent of police and Patna municipal commissioner would undertake a low-altitude aerial survey to identify potential hazards. The survey is yet to happen. Patna airport director Sono Marandi said: “I cannot talk on this today.”

Experts blame meat shops near airport and improper disposal of waste and food left over at the Patna Golf Club.

In a letter, dated November 10, to municipal commissioner Kuldip Narayan, Vishal said garbage was regularly being carted away. He said birds were drawn to insects in the long grass. The grass needs to be cut frequently and insecticides sprayed. “There is a need to stop dumping of garbage from Phulwarisharif to New Bypass. Sanitary inspectors have been told to cover garbage with soil.”

Five bird-hit incidents were reported this year. It should be zero. The civil aviation ministry recently issued guidelines saying for every 10,000 aircraft movement, tolerable bird-hit limit should be 0.48. The airport has six bird chasers, ex-armymen, to keep the area free of birds.