Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 19:

Environmentalists have stressed the need for keeping the Bagmati river banks cleaner by discouraging people from dumping garbage there and making people aware of the environmental hazards in the area to prevent bird menace at the Tribhuwan International Airport . They also expressed their deep concern over the government ignoring the risk posed by the birds at the airport. The problem of birds hitting against the aeroplanes at the TIA can be addressed if the government works to establish a proper waste management system along the Bagmati river banks, said Ram Mani Thapaliya, executive director of the Society of Population and Environment Journalists (SOPEJ). "The government should take more responsibility to deal with such problems but the communities can play greater and more effective role to keep their area clean," he said. He was speaking at the inauguration of a ten-day orientation programme on bird related problems on air safety organised by SOPEJ today.

Of 843 species of birds found in Nepal, 39 are found in the vicinity of the TIA while scavengers are the most common birds that hit aircraft. Experts claim, Nepal ranks second in the world with most cases of birds hitting the aircrafts.

Pointing out that bird-aircraft collision are suicidal for the tourism industry, Tek Bahadur Dangi, chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board said such incidents portray negative image of the country in the international community. Nagendra Ghimire, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said the causes of increase in bird activities at the airport should be addressed.