Maharashtra govt agrees to trim 2nd airport by 160 hectares

Mumbai: Thursday saw a significant breakthrough in the stand-off between the Centre and the state government on the issue of environmental clearance to the proposed site of Mumbai's second airport, with officials appearing willing to go the extra mile to pave the way for the construction of the airport in Navi Mumbai.
After consultations with experts in the aviation ministry and the Centre's hydraulic department, the state government has decided to remove 160 hectares of Waghivali village from the proposed airport area. The area abuts Panvel Creek and two rivers, Gadhi and Ulve, north of the airport site. Officials feel this will convince the Union environment ministry of Maharashtra's intent to protect the environment by leaving major portions of the rivers intact.
The Maharashtra government has agreed to regenerate and maintain the thick mangrove forests in the 160 acres of land to be taken out of the proposed second-airport site in Navi Mumbai. To make up for the land loss, Cidco will acquire a 160-hectare portion towards the south of the site, near Parve village.
Similarly, while diverting two rivers, especially the Gadhi (also known as the Kalundri), the state government says it will strive to ensure minimum damage to the mangrove cover and save a 200-metre-wide belt. The total area of the airport will be around 2,054 hectares.
03/09/10 Chittaranjan Tembhekar/Times of India

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Categories: airports Sep 2010, New Sep 2010