The airport environment committee at its meeting today stressed the need to address two major problems ~ the bird and animal menace and the choked drainage system ~ both of which are causing hindrance in the safe operation of flights as well as damage to the runway. The accumulation of water due to the choked drainage system is causing damage to the runway as well as to other operational areas of the airport. A committee with representatives of Madhyamgram, Rajarhat and Dum Dum municipalities, experts of Airports Authority of India and other officials including those of the state government has been formed to look into the problem as well as take necessary action. The forest department of the state government will take measures to tackle the jackal and dog menace. The AAI has been asked to convert the areas where garbage is dumped into parks so that there will be no garbage and birds will not be attracted. Mr Asok Mohan Chakraborty, home secretary, chaired the meeting. The committee which is scheduled to meet twice a year, met last on 8 October 2002. n SNS