Meat stalls around Yelahanaka AFS to remain closed ahead of Aero India-2023

BENGALURU: With Aero India-2023 round the corner, officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Animal Husbandry, Solid Waste Management and Lake Authority are engaged in keeping the sky clear from birds, especially black kites, which are found in plenty around the Yelahanka air force station. The event is scheduled to be held from February 13 to 17.

As a precautionary measure, BBMP has asked meat/chicken/fish and non-veg serving hotels/ restaurants, in a radius of 10 km around Yelahanka air force station, to suspend their activities for 22 days from January 30.

The officials were informed that black kites more in number near the air force station. Other birds such as shikra, cattle egret, lapwing, pock pigeon and giant fruit bats are also found to be flying around the air force station.

During the preparatory meetings of Aero India, officials concerned were apprised of the dangers to pilots by bird strikes. A bird watcher said black kites glide effortlessly and can change directions very quickly. It is estimated that black kites comprise 80 per cent of the bird population sighted around the air force station.

In the wake of the threats due to bird strikes, the officials concerned have initiated steps for closure of mutton stalls and non-veg hotels. Officials served notices to the stalls, hotels and warned of punishment under the BBMP Act and Indian Aircraft Rules, in case of violation.

On Saturday, a BBMP health official told Deccan Chronicle that the meat stalls and non-veg hotels have been asked to close owing to bird hit scare and that a couple of meetings have taken place on what needs to be done to avoid accidents. Every time an air show is scheduled, meat stalls and non-veg hotels are closed down for a fortnight, prior to the event.

The animal husbandry officials also issued notices to owners of various stalls and hotels to shut their business from January 30 to February 20. There are around 470 mutton stalls in and around Yelahanka.

The move is aimed at ensuring to make the area a no-fly zone to enable pilots rehearse in safe skies. Pilots start to arrive at the AFS about a week before the event and engage in rehearsal for the air show. 

“Normally, birds would disappear from a place if they do not get adequate amount of food for about five days in succession and by shutting mutton/chicken stalls, these birds would fly elsewhere in search of food,” an official said. Even lakes in the region would be made free from birds.