New Delhi: A final decision on the
clearance of the proposed Navi Mumbai airport will be taken
after an expert panel submits its recommendations to the
Environment Ministry, the government told the Rajya Sabha
on Monday.
In reply to a written question in the Upper House,
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh also said that the revised
Navi Mumbai airport project does not involve taking back of
the allotted Special Economic Zone (SEZ) area.
"As per the details submitted, the CIDCO (project
developer) has allotted 162 hectares of area for SEZ project.
The revised project do not involve taking back of the allotted
SEZ area," he said.
The Minister said as per revised proposal, 99 hectares
of mangroves will be damaged and there would be no diversion
of two rivers (Gadhi and Ulve) except channelising the tidal
influenced water body of Ulve river.
As per the original plan, 161 hectares of mangrove area
were the part of the proposed area of 2,054 hectares for the
development of the greenfield airport.
Ramesh said under the CRZ notification, 1991, as amended
in May last year, development of green field airport at Navi
Mumbai is a permissible activity.
PTI
First Published: Monday, November 15, 2010, 18:21