Environmental Impact Assessment Clears Navi Mumbai Project But Centre Has To Approve
Navi Mumbai airport
The crucial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed Navi Mumbai airport, sought by the Union ministry of Environment and Forests before it gives the go-ahead to the project, is ready for submission. Though the report has given the thumbs up for a smooth takeoff for the project, everything hinges on the Centre’s willingness to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act.
A major part of the airport’s land falls in CRZ categories and the project will require the filling up of a creek, transplanting mangroves, altering the course of the Ulve and Gadhi rivers close to site and the flattening of four to five hillocks to pave the way for two runways. The City and development Corporation (Cidco) which is in charge of the project believes that a delay in approval and clearance will affect the implementation of the ambitious over-Rs 7,000 crore project.
The EIA has reportedly given CIDCO the green light. The study has been conducted by some of the leading institutions in the country — the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, Groundwater Survey and Development agency (GSDA), and the project consultant Louis Berger.
“There are no surprises in the report, and there seems to be no big hurdle to the project. We will submit it to the Union government for further clearances,’’ said G S Gill, Cidco’s managing director and vice chairman. The EIA also assesses a flooding scenario. Sources with Louis Berger, which studied possible impact of emissions and sound pollution due to the airport, said there appears to be “no big shocks in store’’ and the replantation of mangroves and realignment of rivers “could be taken care of without harming the environment’’.
As per the original deadline, the final selection of a developer should take place by March 2010 so that the final agreement can be signed in May. “But if this process gets delayed, it will harm our financial projections and growing passenger count,’’ said a senior Cidco official. “The EIA has been conducted based on the lessons and experiments learnt from the development of the Miami airport,’’ he said.
Sources in the Mantralaya who have read the report also confirmed that the EIA has given its seal of approval. “The report will make a strong case for the construction of the airport,’’ said the official.
The CRZ Act has been amended by the Centre 19 times in the past to enable early clearances of special projects as was done in the case of the recently developed airport at the Andaman & Nicobar islands. The Environment Ministry led by Jairam Ramesh has asked Cidco to follow due process, which means that after the submission of the EIA, a public hearing will be held before any amendment to the Act is made.
The state has appealed the Centre to expedite the hearing and clearance process to ensure early development of the airport given that that the capacity of the existing Santa Cruz airport will be saturated in 4-5 years as there is has no scope for expansion.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS
The Environmental Impact Assessment has studied the environmental concerns. These include
The study has been conducted by some of the leading institutions in the country — the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, Groundwater Survey and Development agency (GSDA), and the project consultant Louis Berger The EIA also assesses a flooding scenario given that the course of the rivers will have to be altered
Altering the course of two rivers, Ulve and Gadhi, and construction of embankments for three rivers—Kusadi, Kalundri and Taloja
Four to five hills will have to be flattened to accommodate the airport’s two runways
Mangroves will have to be safely transplanted to 150 hectares of land identified close to the project area
KEY PROJECT DEADLINES Mar 31, 2010: Selection of developer Apr-May 2010: Laying of the foundation stone Sep-Oct 2013: Commencement of services at the airport.
VITAL STATS AREA: 1,140 hectares COST: over Rs 7,000 crore NUMBER OF RUNWAYS: 2
Cidco has 77% of the required land
The remaining 23% has to be acquired through the Raigad district administration
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