In the wake of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, the state government has decided to prepare a disaster management plan for the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.
In the wake of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan, the state government has decided to prepare a disaster management plan for the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has asked the National Disaster Council to prepare a ‘contingency plan’ and suggest precautionary measures to deal with the disaster.
According to a senior Mantralaya officer, Japan has been an eye-opening incident. “The National Disaster Council will study geological conditions near the airport, assessing risk and potential property damage. We are taking all possible measures to make an earthquake-resistant airport. We will set up the latest technology and sea equipment to give us tsunami and earthquake warnings. The contingency plan will also include early shifting of people to safe locations and machinery to deal with devastation,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, Cidco has decided to regenerate mangroves in 310 hectares at Kamothe locality and 60 hectares at Moha creek near the airport. The mangroves will be developed by Lei, a Florida-based company, to maintain the ecological balance of the area.
Moreover, Cidco is also keeping a 370-hectare area as a ‘no development zone’ that will serve as a buffer zone between the sea and airport in case of a calamity.
“The regenerated mangroves will obstruct the tsunami’s waves from entering the airport. Also, the height of the main airport will be kept 7 metres above sea level. We have taken these concrete steps to avert damage caused by tsunamis which have become a regular phenomenon,” said an official.
By June, 2011, the bid will be invited and work is expected to start in January 2012. Navi Mumbai airport’s first phase will be operational by 2014, handling 10 million passengers in a year, while entire airport will be operational in 2030, catering to 60 million passengers annually.
“Navi Mumbai International Airport will be one of the best airports in the world that will have state-of-the-art facilities to cater to international airlines. It will be a complete Greenfield airport. We want to make this airport an epicenter not only for passengers but cargo operations also. We will ensure that the airport work will be completed in time without any delay,” said TC Benjamin, principal secretary of the urban development department.
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