Navi Mumbai airport will come at the proposed site: Chavan

Maharashtra Chief Minister today said Navi Mumbai airport will come up at its proposed site and hoped that all environment related issues will be sorted out.

"As of now the Navi Mumbai airport will come up at the proposed site. Mumbai definitely needs a second airport in view of the increasing air traffic," Chavan said addressing an event organised by Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce (FICCI) here.

However, there are certain environmental concerns which need to be addressed, he said.

"We will do whatever we can do, but 100 per cent compliance is difficult," he added.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) team met Chavan in the morning to discuss the issue. The EAC had also visited the site two days ago for inspection.

Chavan would be meeting Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to talk about the issue soon.

The state Government was positive towards the project after discussing the matter with the EAC yesterday.

The environmental objections raised earlier about the site of the airport and the revised plan submitted by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), the developing authority were discussed in the meeting.

The environment ministry and aviation ministry have been at loggerheads over the delay in environmental clearance to the Navi Mumbai airport.

According to the environment ministry, the construction of airport at the proposed site will lead to destruction of mangrove forest and diversion of two small rivers.