Environment ministry to discuss fate of Navi Mumbai airport tomorrow

The Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the environment ministry will meet tomorrow to discuss the fate of the controversial greenfield airport project at Navi Mumbai as the aviation ministry expressed hope of getting a clearance.

Sources said, the EAC will review the report submitted by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the prime body dealing with the project, which was asked to make changes in the location of non-aeronautical assets like hotels in keeping with the green concerns.

"CIDCO has been asked to do some tweaking of plans so that there is minimum effect on the environment. The non-aeronautical assets have to be constructed along with the airport terminal and two runways while not changing the basic location of the airport," aviation minister Praful Patel had said yesterday as he expressed hope of getting environmental clearance for the project.

The minister said that CIDCO and other agencies have been asked to keep all documentation in readiness, so that work can begin as soon as the environmental clearance was granted.

The project has been mired in controversy following strong objections by the environment ministry, which has opposed destruction of a large area of mangroves, diversion of two rivers in the area and the flattening of a hillock to make way for the runway.

The EAC team is also proposed to visit the site to assess the options to minimise the environmental damage due to the project.