Even though the Ministry of Environment and Forests has given its nod to the Navi Mumbai airport, it has listed the positives and negatives of the project in great detail besides stipulating 32 conditions and safeguards.
The prominent conditions are that Cidco will obtain necessary permissions from the Bombay High Court for removal of mangroves, seek clearance under the Forest Conservation Act and rehabilitate about 3,000 families of 10 settlements in seven villages falling within the airport zone.
“The plantation and protection of mangroves by Cidco, amounting to 615 hectares, will be implemented in the shape of biodiversity mangrove parks well before the airport is operational. Moreover, Cidco will conduct a baseline survey of avian fauna before the start of the construction of the airport,” says a seven-page note from Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh.
The riders also ask Cidco to put in place a contingency plan to avoid flooding of the low-lying areas around the airport and a comprehensive master plan for surface drainage and flood protection, keeping in view the recoursing of the Ulwe.
Cidco will also have to prepare a fresh comprehensive post-project EIA report under the approved layout of the airport, the new hydrological scenario, altered topography and land use including the ecological aspects.
Among the pluses are that the non-essential airport facilities are being shifted, as a result of which 245 hectares of good quality mangrove park is being developed by Cidco. Also, the distance between the runways is being reduced from 1,800 meters to 1,555 metres, removing the need to divert the Gadhi river.
“A new 60 hectare mangrove park will be developed towards the Moha and Panvel Creek area by Cidco. Another 310 hectare area on the northeast of the airport site between the Gadhi river, Mankhurd-Panvel Rail Corridor and NH- 4B will be declared as a ‘no development’ zone. Cidco will undertake the development of mangrove park/green area after changing the sanctioned development plan of Navi Mumbai following due procedures,” the note adds.
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On the negative side, the note says: “Around 98 hectares of mangroves (albeit of low quality) will be lost forever in the area where the runways are being built.” The negatives also include the 90-metre high hill that will need to be removed to enable smooth access to the runways. The hill has already been quarried indiscriminately to significantly diminish its ecological value, according to the note.
The airport site has 161 hectares of mangroves now. But after this compromise, the area will have 678 hectares of mangroves. “This is a hugely positive accomplishment from an ecological point of view,” said Ramesh.
| JAIRAMSPEAK Then: I have no problem with Navi Mumbai. I am not one to stall any development. But we cannot ignore environmental issues. Environmental clearance is not a formality. It has to be gone through Now: 85-90 per cent of our concerns have been addressed. The process of building the Navi Mumbai Airport can start today Then: I have had a word with the Maharashtra chief minister. It is not that we don’t want development, but it should comply with environment laws Now: With these compromises, we are fully on board and will ensure speedy work. Compromise has been reached between Cidco, the environment ministry and aviation ministry Then: Until we are convinced that mangroves will not be cut, we can’t build the airport Now: Before the project starts, there will a four-fold increase in the mangrove area. Our demand has been met 400 per cent Then: Diversion of the rivers is the most serious issue. We all know what happened to Mithi Now: Environmental clearance for the international airport at Navi Mumbai has been given. River Gadhi will not be diverted |