Patna: The Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport administration has formed a committee to tackle the problem of bird-hits during landing or take-off of planes.

Last week, a bird hit a plane while it was landing. The committee will go through the causes and give its suggestions to solve the problem. The committee will also devise ways to reduce the number of birds around the airport.

Airport director R.S. Lahauria said the grass is being trimming regularly to keep the birds at bay. "We aim to remove anything that could attract birds in and around the airport premises," he said.

Sources said the airport administration is considering banning sale of meat from open shops near the airport. The administration also feels that open drains near the airport attract birds and hence the drains should be removed.

The number of bird-chasers has been hiked at Patna airport from 10 to 14. Earlier, three bird-chasers were deputed near the runway on each shift. Now, the number will go up to 4-5 per shift. After 24x7 operations were introduced at the airport from March 26 this year, bird-chasers are being deputed on three shifts.

These bird-chasers have a special type of pistol that shoot crackers. The crackers burst in the air and produce a loud sound.

According to an estimate, every month around one lakh such crackers are fired to keep birds away.

The birds have even adapted to sound produced by three LPG-operated positioned near the runway and stay put.

Lahauria said the airport's environmental committee will meet in the next couple of days to discuss the problem.