Cidco to give more 'green' input on Navi Mumbai airport

Close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention on early clearances for the Navi Mumbai international airport, the Maharashtra government and its undertaking, City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), have expedited the completion of additional terms of reference (ToRs) sought by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Cidco’s technical advisors, which include the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, University of Mumbai, Gujarat Ecological Council and Central Water Power Research Station, have already initiated exercise to prepare the additional ToRs with regard to mangroves, rivers and hills.Besides, the ministry has sought further details on the measures to rehabilitate the project-affected people.

A state government official, who did not want to be quoted, told Business Standard: “MoEF has sought further details with regard to the additional plantation of mangroves and how it would be done. An area of 161.50 hectare is found to be affected due to the airport project as worked out based on the Satellite Remote Sensing Study using the imagery of 1995, 2001, 2006 and 2009 warranting compensatory afforestation. Double the area of 161.50 hectare of mangrove needs to be planted in accordance with the Order of the Bombay High Court. Accordingly, an area of 350 hectare has been identified for plantation of mangroves at Dahanu Taluka in Thane district.” The experts are working out a detailed presentation to strike a balance between environment protection and project development.

As far as rivers are concerned, the additional ToR would comprise Cidco’s plan on training of the Gadhi river and diversion of the Ulwe river. The official said there would not be any compromise on retaining the geomorphology of rivers and, its aquatic life and mangroves in the airport zone.

Meanwhile, sources in the central government said that the Prime Minister might soon convene a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh to look into the contentious issues. Ramesh has agreed to visit Mumbai in the last week of August and hold meeting with the state government and Cidco officials.