Srinagar Airfield Safety and Waste Management Reviewed in High-Level Committee Meeting

SRINAGAR, JULY 04, 2026: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, chaired a meeting of the Airfield Environment Management Committee on Saturday to address critical aviation safety and environmental management issues surrounding Air Force Station (AFS) Srinagar. The high-level meeting—attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag, the SMC Commissioner, the Airport Authority Director, senior IAF officers, and Urban Local Bodies representatives—focused on airfield safety and operational readiness. Key agenda items included the regulation of brick kilns, scientific solid waste management, the removal of unlit flight obstructions, and stray dog population control. A major point of discussion was the airfield’s emergency infrastructure; while AFS Srinagar features three emergency exit gates for search and rescue operations, the north-western gate currently lacks the operational capacity required for Crash Fire Tenders. To rectify this, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioner Budgam to coordinate with relevant departments to fast-track connectivity between the Ring Road and the airport, prioritizing the feasibility and construction of a dedicated emergency access road.

The committee also reviewed existing environmental protocols, noting that the seasonal closure of brick kilns within an eight-kilometer radius from November to March successfully maintains winter visibility for safe aircraft operations. Regarding long-term hazards, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner reported that the solid waste management project at the Achan-Soura dumping site—designed to reduce hazardous bird activity near flight paths—is progressing steadily toward a projected completion date of June 2028. To complement this, the Divisional Commissioner ordered stricter waste disposal enforcement in villages adjacent to the airfield to eliminate illegal dumping that attracts birds. Additionally, the committee targeted physical flight hazards, deciding that telecom providers must properly illuminate communication towers, backed by a comprehensive survey to identify and light up other structural obstructions. Finally, addressing the serious threat that stray dogs pose to air operations and public safety, the Divisional Commissioner instructed the SMC to take immediate corrective action to resolve the menace around the airport premises.