Jairam Ramesh counters Praful Patel's charge on Navi Mumbai airport project

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today countered his ministerial colleague Praful Patel's charge of the Navi Mumbai airport project being delayed for want of clearance, saying it has "serious' ecological issues that needs to be addressed.

"There are serious ecological issues. Its construction would damage mangrove cultivation in the 2,000 hectare area. And then there is a issue of diversion of two rivers. Its too premature to say about its fate," Ramesh told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

He said that the project would be taken up for discussion on July 21-22 by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under his ministry and then only its fate will be decided.
       
"Right now its too early to say what decision will be taken," Ramesh said, adding,"I am sure IIT-Mumbai which has been asked to prepare the environment impact assessment report would have looked into all the ecology-related issues."
       
He also expressed concerns that building the airport at the present selected site would require the levelling of an 80-metre-high hill which raises significant coastal zone management issues.
       
Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and the City Industrial Development corporation (CIDCO) will submit their environment impact assesment report tomorrow.

Patel while inaugurating T3 terminal at Delhi Airport on Saturday had indirectly accused Ramesh of delaying the construction of the Navi Mumbai airport which, he said, was being constructed to meet the increasing air traffic in the
capital of Maharsahtra.
       
Ramesh said his ministry had received the proposal for developing a greenfield airport in 2007 and it even amended the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification allowing for a mangrove forest to be converted into an airport in 2009.
       
A ministry's panel undertook a site visit on December 23 last year. Following this, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board submitted its report on the public hearings pertaining to the airport on June 7, a senior environment ministry official said.