Experts to discuss Navi Mumbai airport on Sept 22

The Ministry of Environment and Forests’ (MoEF’s) Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on coastal regulation is meeting City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) and its consultant, IIT Mumbai, on September 22 to discuss the possible changes in the design of the proposed airport in Navi Mumbai.

The meeting was a follow-up as EAC had sought several clarifications regarding the changes in the project design, diversion of Gadhi and Ulwe rivers, the ambient level of the river water and the fate of mangroves, spread over 160 hectares, a Cidco official, who did not want to be named, said.

“We made our position quite clear at the last meeting on August 20 that no alternative site can be considered. Besides, diversion of Gadhi and Ulwe rivers is not a viable proposition.”

Four days ago, the environment ministry had asked Cidco to modify its design so that the proposed airport did not alter the course of these rivers.

“Independently, Cidco is looking at modifying the plan and see if it can manage without diverting the rivers,” an environment ministry official had said. The official said they would seek further clarifications and wanted to know whether lagoons on these rivers could be protected during the development of the airport.

“We strongly feel that as desired by the EAC members, they should carry out a field visit and get a first-hand experience on how this site is best suited for the project. We will reiterate that the mangroves, spread over 160 hectares, are of low quality and their growth is stunted. Also, replantation is being proposed on 350 hectares in Dahanu taluka of Thane district,” said the Cidco official.

The issue of the ambient level of river water and some aeronautical and non-aeronautical issues would also come up for discussion. “We feel that EAC may submit its report by the end of September,” the official said.

Last week, Jairam Ramesh, the minister of state for environment and forests, is believed to have told Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that the proposed airport could be possible if the project design was amended and river diversion avoided.