It took 13 years to get environmental clearance for the greenfield international airport at Navi Mumbai due to a series of controversies, a verbal duel between Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel as well as a revision in planning and implementation strategies.
The first phase is expected to come up in 2014-15, which otherwise would have commissioned in 2011 as projected by the civil aviation ministry and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), the nodal agency for the project. The cost of the project, estimated at Rs 9,000 crore, is expected to go beyond Rs 15,000 crore.
Controversy over the airport started in 1997 when Cidco had submitted a techno-feasibility report to the Centre on the project. Subsequently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation appointed a committee to explore the possibilities of the new airport in Navi Mumbai as well as other sites including Rewas-Mandwa and Mhapan in Sindhudurg district.
In 2000, the committee recommended the Rewas-Mandwa site as the most suitable option. At the same time, it determined the Navi Mumbai site suitable for domestic operations but unsuitable for international operations, owing to a single runway.
Thereafter, Cidco revised its original proposal by incorporating the provision for a parallel runway and made a comprehensive presentation to the chief minister. It achieved a major breakthrough in August 2007 when the Union Cabinet granted an “in-principle” nod for a greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai on public-private partnership.
The Maharashtra government also granted an approval for setting up a greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai and on July 30, 2008, appointed Cidco as a nodal agency for implementing the project.
After receiving the green signal, Cidco immediately appointed IIT Bombay for an environment impact assessment (EIA) study and CWPRS, Pune, for conducting hydraulic model studies. It submitted an application to Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to approve the Terms of Reference (ToR) to carry out the EIA study for environmental clearance.
“A lot of legal exercise was also carried out. As per the MoEF’s advice, the state government and Cidco obtained the Bombay High Court’s approval to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 1991, for the construction of an airport in Navi Mumbai. Subsequently, MoEF issued notification of amending the CRZ Notification of 1991, permitting a greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai in CRZ areas, subject to environmental safeguards in 2009,” a Cidco official told Business Standard.
Residents of the 17 villages, feared to be affected by the project, and various political parties had raised the issue of relief and rehabilitation and said the MoEF notification amending the CRZ notification was not an environmental nod.
| TWISTS & TURNS Nov 1997: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), Govt of India (GoI) constitutes a Committee to examine various sites for a second airport for Mumbai June 2000: GoI Committee, which had a member from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), recommends Rewas-Mandawa suitable since the Navi Mumbai airport was proposed with one runway. Sept 2000: Cidco/Govt of Maharashtra (GoM) revise the proposal to provide for two runways and submit a feasibility report. Nov 2000: A sub-committee constituted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) examines the Navi Mumbai site, finds it technically and operationally feasible and suggests to carry out a detailed techno economic feasibility study (TEFS) Sept 2001: Cidco/GoM submit TEFS comprising various technical studies. Various technical queries and clarifications raised by AAI have been successfully completed by Cidco. AAI suggests to carry out a simulation study to examine the inter-operability of two airports in a single airspace. Aug 2006: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducts a simulation study sponsored jointly by Cidco/GoM & AAI. The study confirms that simultaneous operation of two airports is possible with appropriate procedures in place. Feb 2007: Cidco/GoM submits the project feasibility and business plan Report to MOCA/ GoI. July 2007: MOCA obtains an in-principle approval from the Union Cabinet for the second airport in Navi Mumbai and conveys to GoM Sept 2007: Cidco appoints IIT Bombay for the environment Impact assessment (EIA) study and CWPRS, Pune, for conducting required hydraulic model studies. Sept 2007: Cidco sends an application to MoEF for approval of the terms of reference (TOR) for carrying out EIA. Nov 2007: The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) recommends an amendment to the CRZ Notification of 1991 to make the development of Navi Mumbai airport permissible in CRZ areas with mitigation measures for environment damage. Feb 2008: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) recommends the proposal with compensatory forestation. Feb 2009: MoEF directs to obtain the Bombay High court approval for amendment of CRZ regulations. March 2008: Cidco appoints the Louise Berger Group (LBG) consortium, USA, as prime consultants for the proposed airport. LBG has so far submitted 16 reports and a draft master plan. April 2009: The Bombay High Court allowed the plea of Cidco/GoM for an amendment to the CRZ Notification of 1991. May 2009: MoEF issues notification for amending the CRZ Notification of 1991, permitting a greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai in CRZ areas, subject to environmental safeguards. June 2009: Cidco submits a fresh application for approval of TOR for carrying out EIA to the MoEF & to MCZMA for approval of CRZ clearance. July 2009: MCZMA considers the proposal for the CRZ approval and recommends to MoEF. Aug 2009: MoEF conveys TOR for carrying out EIA study and IIT Bombay commences the preparation of EIA work in consultation with Central Water Power & Research Station (CWPRS), Pune and Mumbai University , Ground water Survey Dept, Agency (GSDA) , GOM, Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC), Govt of Gujarat, M/s. Hemant Sahai & Associates ( Legal Consultat), DHI, India and Lewis Environmental Sciences, USA Dec 2009: The Expert Appraisal Committee under MoEF visits the Navi Mumbai airport site. Feb 2010: MOEF gives additional TOR for EIA study. Mar 2010: Cidco submits a draft EIA report to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for conducting a public hearing. May 2010: MPCB conducts public hearing and submits the report to MoEF. June 2010: Cidco submits the final EIA report incorporating observations of the public hearing to MoEF. July 2010: EAC considers the proposal in its 89th meeting on July 21 and suggests to examine the possibility of availability of sites in addition to the ones given in the EIA report in the aerial distance of 100-150 km from Mumbai. August 22, 2010: CIDCO makes a presentation to EAC on additional TOR October 20, 2010: EAC visits the Navi Mumbai site and holds its meeting in Mumbai November 10, 2010: Cidco's presentation on additional information sought by EAC |
