MPCB notice to AAI on Gondia airport

Nagpur: Civil aviation minister Praful Patel's pet project-the development of airport in Gondia-has come under the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's scanner.
The board has issued a notice to the Airport Authority of India for not obtaining an environmental clearance for its Gondia project. However, AAI has said it has not violated the law.
Field officers of the MPCB's Bhandara office recently inspected the construction work at Gondia airport and submitted a report to the regional office in Nagpur. According to central government notification issued in 2006 airport development is amongst the projects which requires prior environmental clearance. Construction work can't be done unless the sanction is obtained.
In order to obtain the clearance from union environment and forest department, an environment impact assessment report and a public hearing is to be held.
When contacted an AAI official maintained that there was no violation of the law.
08/07/07 Aneesh Phadnis/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Jul 2007