Kolhapur Airport's safety standards face hindrance from waste and construction

Kolhapur: District collector Dr Vijay Rathod has raised serious concerns over solid waste management and ongoing construction activities within the Kolhapur airport perimetre, stating that these issues are hindering the facility’s safety standards. He emphasized that such obstacles must not be allowed to persist and called for a collective effort to resolve them.Speaking at a one-day workshop held at the district collector’s office, Dr Rathod underscored that waste management is a shared responsibility, expressing hope that every household would conscientiously fulfill this duty to ensure the airport’s surroundings remain clear and safe.The workshop focused on the regularisation of construction activities and solid waste disposal within the airport zone. “For any current or future construction within the airport perimetre, it is mandatory to obtain a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the municipal corporation, and the respective gram panchayat,” Dr Rathod said. He further warned that no trash burning should take place in the vicinity of the airport, as it poses a significant risk to flight operations.Zilla Parishad CEO Dr. Jasmine instructed Gram Panchayats to identify and document all unauthorized structures erected within the airport’s perimeter. Following this, Kolhapur Airport Director Anil Shinde provided a detailed briefing on the specific aviation regulations and safety protocols applicable to the surrounding areas.The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Resident Deputy Collector Gajanan Gurav, Sub-Divisional Officer Mosami Barde-Chougule, Tehsildar Swapnil Pawar, and Dilip Kadam, CEO of the Urban Development Authority. Participants also included local Tehsildars, Block Development Officers, Talathis, and representatives from CREDAI and various social organisations.