Navsari: Union Minister for Environment
and Forests Jairam Ramesh today said the proposed airport at
Navi Mumbai would destroy a large swathe of mangroves.
"There are talks about a new airport in Navi Mumbai. If
that airport comes up in the proposed area, 400 acres of
mangroves would be destroyed," Ramesh, who was here to
inaugurate a heritage project at Dandi village, told
reporters.
Ramesh said Maharashtra should use the expertise of
Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC), a state government agency,
for mangrove conservation.
"I have suggested the Maharashtra Chief Minister to learn
from the experience of GEC and utilise its services for
mangrove conservation," he said.
In New Delhi yesterday, Ramesh had said there are
"serious" ecological issues that need to be addressed before
clearance is given to the airport near Mumbai.
He had said the project would be taken up for discussion
on July 21-22 by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under
his Ministry and then only its fate will be decided.
PTI
