‘Mangroves’
issue delays the construction of NM airport still further
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: A high-level Environment Ministry panel
wants more details about the forest area to be diverted for construction of
Navi Mumbai airport. This new development has led to further delay of construction
of the international airport in Navi Mumbai.
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), had a two-day meeting to
discuss this issue. It asked City and Industrial Development Corporation
(CIDCO) to furnish more details about the mangrove degradation and its
regeneration since CIDCO had requested diversion of 250.0635 hectares of forest
area for establishment of the project. There will be another meeting held to
discuss the above issue.
As per the Environment Ministry approved Airport Master Plan,
area of the proposed airport zone is about 1,405 hectares. It consists of the
core area for aeronautical use (1,160 hectares) and an off-site area on Waghivali Island
According to the CIDCO, the regeneration of mangroves is also
proposed in the no development zones, comprising an area of 310 hectares at
Kamothe and 60 hectares at Moha Creek.
The FAC's new decision has come days after Maharashtra Chief
Minister Prithviraj Chavan admitted in the state Legislative Council that the
project-costs had escalated by three times.
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