Pune, 16 July 2025: Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, convened a joint meeting at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday to address the growing threat posed by unmanaged garbage around Pune Airport.
The meeting involved key officials from the municipal administration, the Indian Air Force, the airport authority, and the police department. The minister emphasized the urgent need for permanent solutions to avoid potential aviation accidents caused by bird activity and stray animals attracted to waste around the airport premises.
Mohol took cognizance of the problem following concerns that garbage dumps around Lohegaon Airport were attracting animals and birds, increasing the risk of incidents such as bird strikes. The issue was further highlighted by recent sightings of a leopard and stray dogs near the airport runway. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mohol said that such risks must be eliminated through coordinated efforts and systematic cleanliness.
The PMC and the airport authority have identified 11 chronic garbage dumping spots within a 5 to 6-kilometer radius of the airport. These sites, often located near vegetable markets and temporary dumping grounds, serve as feeding spots for birds and animals. Instructions have been issued to ensure cleanliness at these locations and prevent further accumulation of waste.
The minister also mentioned that the Air Force and PMC officials would work together to deploy fixed monitoring points, assisted by the police, to regulate and restrict illegal dumping. The aim is to ensure that waste does not pile up along roadsides and within airport limits, thereby safeguarding air traffic operations.
Further, the issue of a leopard spotted in CCTV footage near the airport has been addressed by sealing large storm-water drains where such animals might hide. Forest department teams, along with the airport authority, are monitoring the area using cages and fencing.
Additionally, Mohol discussed the longstanding garbage accumulation at Uruli Devachi, where biomining is now underway to treat legacy waste. The concern is whether this site or other nearby waste zones under Cantonment Board or PMC jurisdiction may be indirectly affecting air operations.
In a parallel move to resolve traffic bottlenecks near the airport, the minister confirmed plans to widen all approach roads. Discussions with Air Force officials have led to approvals for road work on defense-owned land from Yerwada Jail up to the airport and on routes leading from Symbiosis and surrounding areas. The PMC will undertake beautification and development of these roads with official clearance from the concerned defence departments.
Clarifying a recent issue, Mohol said that water seen at the airport was not due to internal leakage but due to a blocked external chamber. He also noted that Pune Airport continues to be appreciated across the country for its facilities and aesthetics.
Lastly, he announced that Asavari Jagdale is likely to be appointed to the PMC under the state government’s recent proposal. The PMC has been directed to act on cleanliness, prevent encroachments, and curb unauthorized constructions near the airport, all part of a larger strategy to maintain safety and infrastructure integrity in the area.
