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Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Croc seen in Powai lake, right behind IIT-B hostel
Mumbai: A local nature lover and Save Powai Lake activist recently spotted and photographed a crocodile at the lakeside, behind hostel 17 of the IIT-Bombay campus. The green activists have once again urged the civic body to fully clean Powai Lake to safeguard the biodiversity at this water body. Photographer Ramesh Kamble, with his Instagram handle posted a video of the crocodile observed behind the IIT-B hostel, which has created considerable interest among activists. NatConnect Foundation, which, along with local resident groups, is running a campaign to clean up and conserve the wetland, called for a census of the crocodiles in the lake. "There were supposed to be 18 crocodiles present in the lake as per a study done a few years ago, but a fresh crocodile count should be done now," NatConnect director B N Kumar said. Environmentalist D Stalin noted, "Besides water pollution at Powai lake, it is observed that the basking and nesting sites of crocodiles here are severely disturbed due to human activities. A new 5-star hotel building has been constructed near the lake, while IIT has also installed metal grills to stop crocscoming into their campus. I have earlier mentioned this to BMC."
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ahmedabad plane crash eye-opener for Navi Mumbai airport: Activist
The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has brought back focus on the "illegal" meat shops near the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), which is likely to commence operations from August, according to an environment activist. These establishments continue to do business despite an advisory from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to stop it, he claimed. Two domestic carriers -- IndiGo and Aksa Air-- have already announced they will shift part of their operations to the greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai once it becomes functional. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Montego Bay: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The Navi Mumbai Airport is being developed by a special purpose vehicle, NMIAL , which is a 74:26 joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra ( CIDCO ). NatConnect, an NGO which has been raising concern over the slaughter and open sale of meat at Ulwe, barely in three km radius from the Navi Mumbai International Airport runway, has again flagged the issue. Live Events It has requested the DGCA to take up this issue seriously with local authorities as the slaughter attracts big birds, such as kites, which can pose threats to the aircraft operations, NatConnect director B N Kumar said in a statement. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers, including 12 crew members, crashed in the Meghaninangar area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from the international airport there on Thursday afternoon, killing 270 persons, including 241 on board the aircraft. While the investigation into the crash is still going on, a bird strike is also being speculated as one the probable causes of the accident. On an earlier complaint, Kumar said, the aviation safety regulator had said "the aerodrome operator has been advised to act against the slaughter that can attract birds". But there has been no action against the illegal slaughter of animals and the open sale of mutton and chicken, he alleged. Recently, the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS), managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has issued a NOTAM -Notice To Airmen - list pertaining to "lack of operational readiness" of Navi Mumbai International Airport, the statement said. "But, the issue pertaining to the illegal slaughter within the three km radius is missing from the NOTAM list," it claimed. The NOTAM list has mentioned the absence of landing and take-off routes and presence of 225 obstacles, including 86 buildings, 79 hilltops, 23 power transmission towers, 12 mobile towers and eight floodlight poles, it said. The Maharashtra government, which appointed the Aerodrome Environment Monitoring Committee (AEMC) under the chairmanship of CIDCO, has clearly stipulated in its order that slaughter within a 10-km radius is prohibited, the statement said. Kumar said when he took up the issue with the AAI, he was informed that the matter has been referred to the "authorities concerned" at the Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL). The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), which administers Ulwe, has also not taken any action, he said. "We have drawn the attention of CIDCO's chief vigilance officer over such a grave lapse (10-km radius norm)," he added.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After Air India crash, activists warn of bird threat from 'illegal' meat shops near Navi Mumbai airport
NEW DELHI: The deadly in Ahmedabad has brought fresh scrutiny to illegal meat shops operating near the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a social organisation has said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Despite a warning from India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), these shops continue to function, the group claimed, according to news agency PTI. The concern centres on the potential for bird strikes caused by the slaughter and sale of meat in close proximity to the airport. Two Indian carriers, IndiGo and Aksa Air, have already announced plans to shift part of their operations to the Navi Mumbai airport once it opens — expected in August. The Navi Mumbai International Airport is being developed by NMIAL, a joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), with a 74:26 shareholding ratio. NGO NatConnect, which has repeatedly flagged the issue of meat sales and slaughter in Ulwe — an area within three kilometres of the airport site — has once again raised an alarm, citing safety concerns. It has urged the DGCA to press local authorities to address the matter urgently. 'The slaughter attracts big birds, such as kites, which can pose threats to the aircraft operations,' said NatConnect director B N Kumar in a statement. The renewed concern comes in the wake of the Air India crash, in which a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, went down in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area shortly after take-off on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now All 270 people onboard, including 12 crew members, were killed. Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, and a bird strike is among the possible reasons being explored. Kumar said that the aviation regulator had previously acknowledged the issue. 'The aerodrome operator has been advised to act against the slaughter that can attract birds,' the DGCA said in response to an earlier complaint. However, Kumar alleged that "there has been no action against the illegal slaughter of animals and the open sale of mutton and chicken." The NGO also pointed to a recent notice from the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS), which is run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The NOTAM — or Notice to Airmen — flagged 'lack of operational readiness' at the upcoming airport, but, according to NatConnect, it did not mention the illegal slaughter in its risk assessments. The NOTAM did list 225 obstacles around the airport site, including 86 buildings, 79 hilltops, 23 power transmission towers, 12 mobile towers and eight floodlight poles. The Maharashtra government, through its Aerodrome Environment Monitoring Committee (AEMC) chaired by CIDCO, has already issued a directive banning slaughter activities within a 10-km radius of the airport, the NGO said. Kumar said that after raising the issue with the Airports Authority of India, he was told the matter had been passed on to relevant officials at NMIAL. However, no action has been taken so far by CIDCO, which administers the Ulwe area. "We have drawn the attention of CIDCO's chief vigilance officer over such a grave lapse (10-km radius norm)," he added.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Halt animal slaughter near Navi Mum airport: DGCA
Navi Mumbai: Amid activists' repeated concerns over bird strike threats to aircraft due to illegal open slaughtering of animals near Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed the airport operator to cease activities attracting birds near the facility. This directive is particularly crucial as the airport prepares to commence operations in a month. The DGCA regulation features prominently in the state govt's resolution establishing the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC) for NMIA. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar lodged a complaint via the Prime Minister's grievance portal on Feb 24 regarding unauthorised goat and chicken slaughtering at Ulwe, about 3 km from the runway. "This is a flagrant violation of the aircraft norms of DGCA which stipulate that there shall be no slaughter of animals within a 10 km radius of any airport," Kumar stated in his complaint. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo Cidco, heading the AEMC and administering Ulwe node, has taken limited action. Despite demolishing some shops, they reappeared quickly, according to Santosh Kate, Ulwe city NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) president. Kate has alerted Cidco and Raigad district authorities about unhygienic open meat vending. The practice poses risks during bird flu and GBS virus outbreaks, with officials seemingly overlooking violations. DGCA director Amit Gupta confirmed instructing the Aerodrome Operator to stop activities attracting birds. Kumar expressed disappointment at DGCA's delayed response after two months and reminders. Following limited initial response from Air Safety director A X Joseph, activists and angry residents protested on Apr 13 about continuing illegal operations despite imminent airport functionality. Local resident Karan Chawla reported to the chief minister about the daily illegal slaughter of 15-30 goats in Ulwe sector 19. The matter has been escalated to additional chief secretary (home) Dr I S Chahal and Urban Development-2 Secretary Govind Raj. Activists hope for action following DGCA's intervention and suggest establishing a proper slaughterhouse in Navi Mumbai with strict hygiene standards.
