'We've done our homework' - CM Maharashtra

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MUMBAI: A day after Jairam Ramesh asked him to look for another site for

the Navi Mumbai international airport chief minister Ashok Chavan spoke

to the Union environment minister, saying since adequate homework had

been done for the project, the Centre should consider approving it.

 

" I have received Jairam Ramesh's letter and spoke to him regarding the

homework done by my government. I have sent him a reply today itself. I

have passed on specific information about the issues raised by him,''

Chavan told TOI.

 

Earlier, Chavan had a long meeting with chief secretary Johny Joseph and

City and Industrial Development Corporation vice-chairman G S Gill to

discuss the pros and cons of Jairam's communication. " We will take all

possible steps to convince the minister on the need to approve the new

airport, since it will ease the congestion at the existing one,'' Chavan

asserted.

 

In his letter, Jairam said since the site includes 150 hectares of

mangroves and 340 hectares of coastal marshy land, including 118

hectares of water bodies, the state government should look for another

site. Further, he said the original mangroves are irreplaceable and no

compensatory afforestation is possible. " Eminent scientists have warned

of a grave danger and that the second airport project poses and that the

site is of great ecological value and should not be harmed,'' he said in

his letter.

 

In view of the increasing air traffic at the Mumbai airport, the state

government was looking for a new site to set up an international

airport. After a survey for well over a decade, Cidco, the nodal agency,

identified a site near Navi Mumbai for the airport. The project was

sent to the ministries of civil aviation, and environment and forests

for clearances. Prime minister Manmohan Singh too had taken keen

interest in the new airport. After Cidco made a presentation on the

status of mangroves and submitted that it has nearly 1,400 acres of

reserved forests, the cabinet approved the proposal. " Chavan held four

to five meetings with the PM. On Chavan's submissions, the PMO gave

approval for the project,'' a senior official told TOI.

 

The official added after cabinet approval, Cidco appointed the IIT to

conduct an environmental impact assessment of the project. " We are keen

to complete all procedures and obtain final approval in three months. We

are sure once we present our case before the minister he will accept our

contention,'' the official said

 

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