Proposed New Navi Mumbai International airport is a new international airport, which is to come up at Kopra-Panvel area, is being built through public-private partnership (PPP) — with private sector partner getting 74% equity while Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Govt of Maharashtra (through City and Industrial Development Corporation or CIDCO ) holding 13% each. Contents [hide ] 1 Overview 2 Controversies o 2.1 Go ahead 3 Recent objections to the Kopra Panvel Location o 3.1 The original option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Rewas Mandwa o 3.2 The other option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Kalyan - Nevali
Transcript
Proposed New Navi Mumbai International airport is a new international airport, which is to come up at Kopra-Panvel area, is being built through public-private partnership (PPP) — with private sector partner getting 74% equity while Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Govt of Maharashtra (through City and Industrial Development Corporation or CIDCO) holding 13% each.
Contents
[hide]
1 Overview 2 Controversies
o 2.1 Go ahead 3 Recent objections to the Kopra Panvel Location
o 3.1 The original option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Rewas Mandwa
o 3.2 The other option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Kalyan - Nevali
4 Road Map 5 References
[edit] Overview
The sea - shore land required is about 11.4 km² for the core airport activity and will have two parallel runways each 4500 metres long. It is to be located on highway NH 4B near Panvel, about 35 km from the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. The International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has already given clearance to the Navi Mumbai airport on technical parameters. The Airport construction is at global tendering stage [1]
The cost of the project, which is being developed through the public-private partnership route, is estimated at between Rs 3,200 crore and Rs 4,000 crore. The airport will have a terminal area of 250,000 m². and a cargo area of 100,000 m² and handle 50-55 million passengers annually..[2]
The location of the proposed airport at Navi Mumbai has been considered on several parameters. Prominent among these is the fact that Navi Mumbai is expected to absorb the future growth in population, business and commercial activity of the region. The availability of physical and commercial activity of the region. The availability of physical and social infrastructure coupled with environmental friendly size with least resettlement and rehabilitation makes the Navi Mumbai airport project technically and financially viable.
The site of airport is located in an area of 9.5 km² accommodating two parallel runways for simultaneous and segregated parallel operation with provision of full length taxi ways on either side of the runways. The airfield has been designed to accommodate the new large aircraft compatible to aerodrome code 4-E.
The airport which has been proposed is located on NH4B which is at a distance of 35 km from the Santacruz Airport, near Panvel town in Navi Mumbai. Approximately 1140 Hectares (Ha) has been marked for the development of the
second International airport. Another 225 Ha of government land is being transferred to CIDCO and the remaining 295Ha is private land which is under acquisition.
According to CIDCO, the total cost of the airport will be about Rs.9,970 crores. The development will be stretched in 4 phases, viz, Phase-1 (2008–12), for a planned capacity of 10mpa which would cost Rs.4,200 crores; Phase-2 (2015–2017), for augmenting the capacity to 20mpa, which would cost Rs.1,896 crores. The third phase, the Phase-3 (2020–2022) for additional capacity of 10mpa would cost about Rs.1,600 crores and finally Phase-4 (2026–2028) will further increase the capacity to 40mpa at an estimated price of Rs.2,272 crores.Navi Mumbai International Airport will support the rapidly growing air travel needs of Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is expected to absorb annually 4.5 million passengers in its first operational year and will be doubling it to 8.2 million in three years time. It will be able to absorb 13.7 million by 2020 and 30 million by 2030.
The Navi Mumbai Airport is proposed to be developed through public-private participation. For rapid, successful implementation of this major, vitally needed project, a Special Economic Zone, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Thane-Belapur and Taloja industrial area and the huge catchment area ranging from Pune to South Mumbai-would assure a steady growth rate in traffic at the new airport, thus assuring steady revenues to the investors. In addition the project opens-up state vast hinterland rich in agriculture, floriculture, high-tech high value industries to world market
making airport to act as focal point for emergency of a trans-shipment centre in Asian region.
[edit] Controversies
Although there is an urgent need for an additional International Airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, a deadline has yet to be fixed for construction to begin. The CIDCO's[1] official website states that it will handle 10 million passengers in its first operational year 2012, (previously the CIDCO website stated as 4.5 million passenger in its first operational year 2007) and land acquisitions have still not been completed. Villagers and land holders at the planned site of the airport are unhappy with the compensation paid to them by CIDCO. The site also presents environmental problems in dealing with mangroves and rain/storm water drains in Panvel. There is an NGO fighting government agencies regarding Panvel.
One viewpoint is "World over almost all new International airports are build away from city and a dedicated road/rail is provided for connectivity, reason behind is lack of space in the city and airports need huge chunk of land which is commercially not viable.
As of 21 April 2008 [2] The Union environment and forest ministry’s refusal to grant clearance to Mumbai’s second international airport has put a question mark over the project’s ability to meet deadline. In March, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) refused permission to Navi Mumbai international airport.
Sources told Economic Times (ET) that the efforts made by the civil aviation ministry and Maharashtra government to get the project approved by MoEF have not yielded a positive result. With the infrastructure at the existing international airport under immense pressure to cater to growing air traffic, even a minor delay in getting the new airport commissioned could prove costly for Mumbai, sources said.
If the environmental approval does not come by, the project faces two tough options. City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the state government arm entrusted with planning and building industrial townships and the nodal agency for the airport project , will either have to shelve the plan or look for an alternative site around Mumbai, informed sources said.
“The existing airport barely manages 18 million passengers per annum. With the rapid growth in air traffic, aviation activity at this airport will virtually come to a halt unless we offload some burden. The airport proposes to start operations with 10 million passenger per annum capacity in 2012,” an official said. According to sources, Cidco has also been asked to carry out a fresh environment impact survey (EIS). Cidco has engaged IIT Powai to conduct EIS. Cidco officials told ET that the new problems that have cropped up could push the plan to operationalise the airport by 2012. “Technically, the project does not have environmental clearance from the MoEF as of now. Cidco is in the process of carrying out environmental impact survey and approval
to the project will be on hold till we submit the report to MoEF,” a Cidco official told ET.
The airport is being built on 1142 hectares of land near Navi Mumbai of which 56% is already under the possession of the Airport Authority of India. Maharashtra government has sorted out land issues for another 22% of the proposed land and Cidco is slated to get control over this land also. Cidco is in the process of working out a compensation package for around 20,000 people inhabiting the remaining land.
The MoEF has pointed out that more than 30% of the entire proposed land falls under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ). Ironically , the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) had given its approval to the project. The MoEF’s refusal to give environmental clearance could also create problems for Cidco in resettlement of PAPs, sources said. “So far, the PAPs and their elected representatives have been co-operative . But procedural delays could test their patience and also fuel resentment which will create an additional hurdle,” Cidco sources said.
Earlier this year, Cidco had appointed New Jersey-based engineering consultancy company Louis Berger to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) in eight months. The DPR will enable CIDCO to float global tender for selecting a strategic private partner for the Rs 4765 crore project. But Cidco must get all clearances including the crucial environmental nod to move ahead.
[edit] Go ahead
The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) gave its clearance for the Rs 4,000-crore Navi Mumbai international airport on 14 May 2008. MoEF, in March, had deferred environment clearance for the project on the grounds that the airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of mangroves.
A visibly relaxed Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said “We have received an in principle clearance for the Navi Mumbai international airport which has been planned to ease out the burgeoning burden on the existing Mumbai international airport. The project is expected to be complete by 2012”.
A senior state government functionary said that the civil aviation minister Praful Patel as well as the state government had sought the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention after MoEF had raised objections in March. On top of it, Patel had completely ruled out the possibility of changing the present site at Panvel, 35 km away from Mumbai where the state government already chose 1,140 hectares of land. The 1,140 hectares of land is essential to accommodate two parallel runways for simultaneous and segregated parallel operation with provision of full-length taxi ways on either side of the runways. The airfield has been designed to accommodate the new large aircraft compatible to aerodrome code 4-E.
MoEF’s decision has given a boost to the state government and its undertaking, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), which is a nodal agency for the
proposed greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai. Cidco has already selected the US-based Louis Berger for the preparation of masterplan for the Navi Mumbai airport. Louis Berger, which had outbid Scott Wilson (UK), Maunsell (Singapore) and Mott McDonald (Mumbai), would prepare a comprehensive master plan, detailed project report, procurement documents and other necessary reports.
Navi Mumbai airport would support the rapidly growing air travel needs of Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is expected to absorb annually 10 million passengers in its first operational year 2012, doubling to 20 million by 2020 followed by 30 million passengers in 2025 and ultimately 40 million by 2030. The airport is proposed to be developed through public-private participation (PPP) in which Cidco/Airports Authority of India would hold 26% equity and rest would be held by private developer to be selected through public bidding. Meanwhile, the state government has also kicked-off the land acquisition process.
[edit] Recent objections to the Kopra Panvel Location
As a result of the recent objections being raised by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on the current proposed location of the Navi Mumbai International airport near Kopra Panvel area, apparently because the construction of thr airport would involve reclamation of low-lying areas in an ecologically fragile zone as well as destruction of several hectares of Mangroves. There are serious environmental issues. Its construction would damage mangrove cultivation in the 2,000 hectares, besides the diversion of Gadhi and Ulwe rivers, which according to the
Union Environment and Forests Ministry is a very serious issue considering the destruction Mumbai faced during the 26th July 2005 floods. As a result of these new developments other locations are now being actively being considered.
[edit] The original option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Rewas Mandwa
The proposed airport site is centered around the region of Rewas and Mandwa near Alibaug, where the original proposal of second international airport existed on all regional development plans, and the location was commented to be the most fit and correct barring the excessive financial cost involved in building a sea-link/creek bridge over the Karanja Creek connecting Uran - JNPT area to the proposed airport at Rewas Mandwa. It is only at a distance of 20 nautical miles by sea makes it an viable location. If the current location at Kopra Panvel does not go through, the one at Rewas - Mandwa location will have again to be considered for this Airport project.
[edit] The other option of locating the proposed Second International Airport for Mumbai near Kalyan - Nevali
The second option includes the one off village Newali near Kalyan-Ambernath 55 km away from the current airport in Mumbai. There exists an old and abandoned air-strip of World War II era and the Union Defence Ministry owns the 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of land on which it is located. The proposal is now centered around those 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of land. If the current location at Kopra Panvel does not go through, then the Kalyan-Nevali location would be
considered for a future Kalyan International Airport which would serve as a much needed second International airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan region.
[edit] Road Map
New Delhi: The government is expecting to complete the bidding for the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport by March 2010.
The new airport, which is to come up at Kopra-Panvel area, is being built through PPP route, with private sector partner getting 74 per cent equity while Airports Authority of India and Govt of Maharashtra through City and Industrial Development Corporation holding 13 per cent each. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has already given techno-feasibility clearance to the proposed airport, which will be located on National Highway NH 4B near Panvel, about 35 km from the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. The airport construction is at global tendering stage. The land required is about 11.4 km2 for the core airport activity and will have two parallel runways each 4,500 metres long. 23/07/08 PTI/Economic Times
The crucial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed Navi Mumbai airport, sought by the Union ministry of Environment and Forests before it gives the go-ahead to the project, is ready for submission. Though the report has given the thumbs up for a smooth take-off for the project, everything hinges on the Centre's willingness to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act.
"There are no surprises in the report, and there seems to be no big hurdle to the project. We will submit it to the Union government for further clearances, said G S Gill, Cidco's managing director and vice chairman. The EIA also assesses a flooding scenario. Sources with Louis Berger, which studied possible impact of emissions and sound pollution due to the airport, said there appears to be "no big shocks in store and the replantation of mangroves and realignment of rivers "could be taken care of without harming the environment.
As per the original deadline, the final selection of a developer should take place by March 2010 so that the final agreement can be signed in May. "But if this process gets delayed, it will harm our financial projections and growing passenger count, said a senior Cidco official. "The EIA has been conducted based on the lessons and experiments learnt from the development of the Miami airport, he said.
[edit] References
1. ̂ Cidco2. ̂ Article about the airport in The Hindu Business Line
CIDCO and Navi Mumbai International Airport Navi Mumbai International Airport 2nd Airport for Mumbai and how not to build it by
Dorab Sopariwala
Uddhav Thackeray opposes Navi Mumbai airport proposal: He pointed out that environment minister Jairam Ramesh had said that the new airport would degrade the local environment substantially
Staff Correspondent ‘Shiv Sena is making it a political issue by opposing the project'
Mumbai needs another airport, says Minister
Six power projects being planned in Maharashtra
Pune: Maharashtra Finance Minister Sunil Tatkare has supported the proposal for the Navi Mumbai International Airport in spite of the Union Environment Ministry's opposition to it on environmental grounds.
The Minister told presspersons here on Monday that Shiv Sena was making it a political issue by opposing the project, when the fact is that Mumbai needs another airport.
“Union Civil Aviation Minster Praful Patel has created a revolution in India in the past five years. Shiv Sena is opposing the project just for the sake of it. They can have their reservations and they can be sorted out. But it is important not to bring politics in the development process,” he said.
On the Jaitapur nuclear power plant, Mr. Tatkare said the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra would have to adhere to the environmental norms, and that the final decision would be taken by the Union Environment and Forests Ministry. He said that six power projects were being planned in the State.
“We will see to it that environmental degradation is at its least, the farmers' issues are dealt with and that one person in each family gets a job in the power plant,” he said. He promised that no chemical projects would be encouraged in the Konkan region anymore.
Mr. Tatkare's constituency, Raigad, has also been affected by the recent oil spill off Mumbai's shores. Calling it an unfortunate incident, he said the loss assessment was on. The evaluation process could not be finished so early, as the spill was spreading to various parts, he said. “Fishermen have been affected a lot, and only after a complete evaluation, we can talk about compensation.”
On the audit of the Commonwealth Youth Games (held in 2008 in Pune), the Minister said he would get a report from his department, and “if need be” direct the officials concerned to conduct another audit of the funds allocated by the Government. The report would be prepared in 15 days, he said.
When asked why the Government had not looked into the matter before the media asked for an audit, Mr. Tatkare evaded the question.
“From now on, there will be a stipulated timeframe within which organisers will have to submit a proper audit,” he said.
Enhancement in aviation facilities in Mumbai is absolutely essential for keeping the leadership of Maharashtra in attracting Foreign Direct Investment thereby creating a place of pride for itself and add to the prosperity of its people. Therefore a second airport in the Mumbai Region has become imperative, as the existing airport at Mumbai, is fast reaching saturation level. To meet the growing demand of air travel CIDCO is soon going to develop a new airport.
The location of the proposed airport at Navi Mumbai has been considered on several parameters. Prominent among these is the fact that Navi Mumbai is expected to absorb the future growth in population, business and commercial activity of the region. The availability of physical and social infrastructure coupled with environmental friendly site with minimum resettlement and rehabilitation makes the Navi Mumbai airport project technically and financially viable.
The airport would be one of world's few ''greenfield'' international state-of-art airport offering world class facilities to passengers cargo, aircrafts and airlines.
The site of airport is located in an area of 1140 hectares accommodating two parallel runways for independent parallel operation with provision of full length taxi ways on either side of the runways. The airfield has been designed to accommodate the new large aircrafts compatible to aerodrome code 4-F, conforming to specifications of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Navi Mumbai International Airport will support the rapidly growing air travel needs of Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It is expected to absorb annually 10 million passengers in its first operational year 2012, doubling to 20 million by 2020 followed by 30 million passengers in 2025 and ultimately 40 million by 2030.
The Navi Mumbai Airport is proposed to be developed through public-private participation in which CIDCO/AAI will hold 26% equity and rest will by held by private developer to be raised through public bidding.
The growth in resident population in Navi Mumbai, rapid development of its Central Business District, coupled with economic activities such as Special Economic Zone, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Thane-Belapur and Taloja industrial areas and the huge catchment area ranging from Pune to South Mumbai would assure a steady growth rate in traffic at the new airport, thus assuring steady revenues to the investors. In addition the project opens-up the state’s vast hinterland rich in agriculture, floriculture, hi-tech high value industries to world market. Thus making the airport to act as a focal point for emergence of a transshipment centre in the Asian region.
The SPC would also be entitled to special benefits/incentives currently available on infrastructure development projects. The SPC mission would be to build and operate airport that will become exemplary worldwide based on top quality services, high safety standards and above all commitment to customer satisfaction.
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), GOI has given ‘In principle’ approval for the development of Greenfield airport at the Navi Mumbai and subsequently State Cabinet GOM has also approved the development of Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Accordingly prime consultant appointed by CIDCO, M/s. LBG-INECO-RITES Consortium, USA is working on preparation of master plan, detail project report etc. to enable to prepare procurement documents to initiate the bidding process.
CWPRS, Pune is appointed as consultant for hydrological 1-D, 2-D mathematical model study and physical model study. M/s. DHI, Denmark is appointed as International Expert Review consultant for CWPRS hydrological study.
MoEF vide notification no. S.O. 1243 (E) dated 15th May, 2009 amended CRZ Notification 1991, permitting the development of green field airport and related activities at Navi Mumbai in CRZ areas. Soon after amendment, CIDCO applied to MCZMA for approval of CRZ & MOEF
for approval of TOR for carrying out EIA study for commencing the process of Environmental Clearance for the Navi Mumbai International Airport. MCZMA considered the proposal for CRZ approval on 16th July 2009 and thereafter, also recommended to MOEF. Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), MoEF considered the ToR proposal in its meeting on 21st July 2009 & approved TOR on 4th August 2009. IIT, Mumbai is presently carrying out EIA Study. The various scientific studies suggested by MOEF & MCZMA as a part of Environment clearance for NMIA has already been commenced by CIDCO.
M/s. Hemant Sahai Associates has been appointed as Legal service consultant to prepare the necessary transaction documents for the project.
GSDA, Pune is appointed as a consultant for scientific ground water study.
Department of Life Science, Mumbai University is appointed as consultant for mangrove regeneration and re-plantation study. M/s. Lewis Environmental Services Inc. USA is appointed as International wetland / mangrove Expert Review consultant for regeneration & re-plantation of Mangroves.
NEW DELHI: Not one to pass up the chance of a fight, minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh has hit back at MoS for civil aviation Praful Patel, alleging that two Maharashtra government bodies had not responded to environment-related queries about the new Mumbai airport.
On Saturday, Ramesh wrote to Patel just 24 hours after the civil aviation minister had gone public with his remarks about the environment ministry's obstuctionist attitude to clearances for the Navi Mumbai airport.
The environment minister told the NCP leader that once the Maharashtra government's initial proposal was sent to the Centre in 2007, the ministry had even amended existing coastal regulation rules to allow the airport to come up in 2009.
In his letter, Ramesh noted that the City and Industrial Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) submitted its first formal proposal in June 2009. The environment ministry informed the state government of the terms of reference for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) under the Environment Protection Act.
Ramesh noted that responses from both CIDCO and Maharashtra's coastal authority were still pending. The upshot of his letter is that the Centre cannot be blamed for delays.
In February 2010, the ministry updated the terms of reference after a team went to the proposed project site for review. On June 7, the Centre received the draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) report along with an account of a public hearing.
As the airport is planned next to the coast, the Centre, as the coastal regulations required, asked
the state coastal zone management authority to review the project and send its recommendations.
It also asked City and Industrial Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) to send a finalized EIA report on June 22. Sources in the ministry pointed out the airport proposal could face rough weather even once the mandatory reports are submitted. The airport requires two rivers to be diverted from their course, which is not permitted under the coastal regulations.
The state government has taken the view that with the construction of the airport being made a 'permissible' activity under the amended regulations, all other actions such as diverting rivers could also be allowed.
Read more: Jairam counters Praful on Navi Mumbai airport delay - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jairam-counters-Praful-on-Navi-Mumbai-airport-delay/articleshow/6126201.cms#ixzz0yNsHgTZr
Ministers spar over Navi Mumbai airport 0 Comments
Author(s): Nidhi Jamwal
Issue: Jul 14, 2010
Maharashtra coastal authority clears its EIA report
The spat between the Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel and the Union minister of state for environment, Jairam Ramesh, over Navi Mumbai airport reached a flash point on July 2. Patel slammed Ramesh's ministry for delaying clearance to the proposed airport. In reply, Ramesh shot off a letter to Patel saying the delay was not on his ministry's part but that some mandatory documents were yet to be received.
“… the present proposal has substantial environmental impacts especially in the coastal areas. These include loss of over 121.4 hectares of mangroves, diversion of two rivers, levelling of an 80-metre-high hill and involves significant coastal zone management issues,” said Ramesh in his letter dated July 3.
The quarrel has its roots in an interview aired by news channel in which Patel claimed that the existing Mumbai airport had saturated and he had to think if new flights could be permitted there or not. “We can’t be overly obsessive about environmental issues. We can’t give priority to 50 to 100 acres (40 hectares) of degradation over a large infrastructure project?” said Patel.
Ramesh was quick to respond. According to him, the environment ministry received the draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) study and the state pollution control board’s report on the public hearing only on June 7. The hearing was held on May 5 and was boycotted by all the 18 affected villages (see Backdoor democracy, Down To Earth, May 31, 2010). The environment ministry then wrote to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) asking for its recommendations on the proposed airport. The ministry also asked for a final EIA report, along with the authority’s comments on it.
“… the MoEF needs to receive the final EIA report from the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) and the final recommendations of MCZMA. The expert appraisal committee… will then consider and provide its recommendations to enable me to take an appropriate decision,” said Ramesh. General manager of CIDCO, Jayant Kulkarni claimed the report submitted on June 7 was the final EIA.
The spat made MCZMA clear the EIA report on July 5. “The authority has cleared the EIA and would be recommending it to the environment ministry,” informed Valsa R Nair Singh, secretary of state environment department. Singh is also the chairperson of MCZMA.
The issue of rehabilitation of project affected families, though remains unresolved. According to Kulkarni, CIDCO has prepared Rs 350 crore rehabilitation package for the affected families, which is still under discussion. Local people, however, are unaware of it. “Our meeting with CIDCO got cancelled twice. We have formally written to it demanding an immediate meeting to decide on our rehabilitation, but are yet to hear from CIDCO,” said R C Gharat, president of the association of 18 affected villages.
Coastal rules amended to allow airport
August 27, 2007: MOEF first receives proposal for developing Navi Mumbai airport
May 15, 2009: Ministry issues an amendment to the CRZ, 1991 notification making airport a permissible activity at Navi Mumbai
June 22, 2009: CIDCO submits proposal to develop Navi Mumbai airport
Aug 4, 2009: Ministry issues terms of reference for conducting EIA study
December 23, 2009: A central team visits proposed site
Feb 8, 2010: Additional terms of reference for EIA issued
June 7, 2010: Ministry receives draft EIA and public hearing report
June 22, 2010: Ministry writes to MCZMA asking for its recommendations
On a visit to the city on Saturday, Union Minister for Environment and Forests,
Jairam Ramesh admitted to having received a proposal to shift the new airport from Navi Mumbai to Ambernath
"Yes, politicians from Thane district did approach me for considering the plan to shift the airport from Navi Mumbai to Ambernath. I have forwarded their proposal to concerned authorities," said Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister for Environment and Forests on a trip to Mumbai on Saturday. Ramesh's statement is a confirmation of the report carried by MiDDAY on July 24 titled, 'Airport at Ambernath?'
Jairam Ramesh at the Bombay Natural History Society office after visiting the site of the oil spill off
Mumbai's coast. Pic/Shadab Khan
MiDDAY had earlier reported that politicians from Thane district and builders were campaigning for the airport to be shifted to Ambernath. However, Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister had denied the news as rumours.
By: Varun Singh
Date: 2010-08-15 Place: Mumbai
Subsequent media reports revealed that the Prime Minister himself was concerned about the delay in the upcoming airport.
On Saturday, while addressing the media, Ramesh expressed his reservations for the Navi Mumbai project, and said, "There are three main environmental issues, of which I give prime importance to the diversion of the two important rivers. If these rivers are diverted, Panvel city will be under water, and 400 acres of mangroves will be left damaged. A third of the 80-metre hillock will have to be cut down. These are all important issues."
Ramesh said he had also visited Mumbai's coast to survey the scene of the recent oil spill. "We will be granting compensation to fishermen for damages borne," said Ramesh. He lamented that not much can be done about mangroves being affected by the oil spill.
The spill has affected more than 100 kilometres of the coastal belt, which included a 70-km mangrove stretch.
The minister however was unaware whether the oil spill had affected mangroves in the belt of the proposed international airport area. "The mangroves will have to be regenerated. It is a natural process," said Ramesh.
Ramesh said this was a "freak accident, a unique accident, something that has never happened in the history of the country. We have to be prepared for the future, and take care. There are measures that have already been initiated and within seven months, a new system will be in place."
Submitted by admin on June 30, 2010 – 9:46 amNo Comment
Mumbai
The proposed Navi Mumbai airport is yet to get a clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF). The environment impact assessment report prepared by IIT-B has been sent back to the state for further clarification.
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“We have sought several clarifications ranging from CRZ to conservation issues and sent back the report to the state environment department,” said Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for environment and forest. The proposed airport had raised several environmental concerns as it would displace nearly 150 hectares of verdant mangroves and even lead to two rivers being diverted. “We are concerned by these consequences as they would have a long-term impact if adequate measures are not taken on time,” Ramesh said.
He said the department has been receiving complaints of large-scale destruction of mangroves from Dahisar-Kandarpada area. “I have written to the chief minister to look into the destruction of mangroves at Dahisar on the banks of Gorai creek. I hope the state government takes this issue seriously as the mangroves act like bio-shields against flash floods for a fragile coastline like Mumbai’s. They also double up as a natural air purifier,” Ramesh said.
Ramesh also said the ministry is against giving permission to helipads within the city as it will increase noise pollution to unbearable levels. “It is ironical that we are talking about reducing carbon emission and agencies are thinking of giving permission for such unhealthy proposals,” he said.
Submitted by admin on August 6, 2010 – 11:29 amNo Comment
THE Navi Mumbai Airport proposal, which had triggered a spat between civil aviation minister Praful Patel and environment minister Jairam Ramesh, appears to be heading for a resolution, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh putting his weight behind the project. The environment ministry has been holding back clearance, as it could adversely impact ecology of the region identified for the project.
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The prime minister seems to be of the view that environmental issues should not be allowed to come in the way of the project, particularly when he had set an ambitious aim to convert the country’s financial capital into an approximation of Shanghai. A group of MPs from Mumbai and adjoining areas had met the prime minister on Monday and sought his immediate intervention to remove the “Jairam hurdle”.
A section of the government, however, still maintains that the reservations expressed by the environment ministry are valid. Developing the airport would result in the destruction of 400 acres of mangroves, diversion of two rivers and the blasting of an 80-ft hillock. The destruction of the mangroves is of particular concern, as they act as a natural buffer against sea and coastal erosion. The impact of the destruction of mangroves in other parts of Mumbai was seen during the devastating monsoon floods of July 2005. The 80-ft hillock, which will have to be blasted, also serves as a natural buffer along the coastline. The diversion of the Gadhi and Ulwe rivers will affect the natural drainage of the region, leading to an impact similar to that of the diversion of the Mithi river, as witnessed during the July 2005 floods. The Navi Mumbai airport project was given an ‘in-principle’ approval by the Union Cabinet in May 2007.
The sore points
The airport will destroy 400 acres of mangrovesDiversion of Gadhi and Ulwe will hit the region’s natural drainageBlasting of the 80-ft hillock will affect the region’s coastline EAC seeks more detailsBUT the environmental impact assessment report, submitted in June this year, did not address issues regarding compliance with the coastal zone regulations, the impact of diversion of rivers and the clearing of the mangroves. A fresh report was submitted for the perusal of the environmental appraisal committee (EAC) that met in late July. The committee had asked the state government and project proponent, the City and Industrial Development Corporation, or CIDCO, for further details and information.
The proposal put forward by CIDCO did not also include a social impact assessment (SIA) study. This is a requirement under the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007.
Submitted by admin on August 13, 2010 – 12:01 pmNo Comment
Mumbai
The state urban development ministry has rubbished the claims of organisations who have accused the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) of not considering alternative and more environmentally friendly sites for the proposed second airport. This is not the first time that Cidco’s plans for the second airport at Navi Mumbai have fanned the ire of environmental watchdogs.
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The state government, however, is set to issue a strongly worded response to the Bombay Environment Action Group’s (BEAG) letter to the Prime Minister, which highlighted the fact that half the money for the Navi Mumbai airport will be spent on altering courses of rivers, displacing mangroves and making the fragile coastal zone resilient enough to withstand the new airport.
“We studied the feasibility of all sites within 60-70 km from Navi Mumbai, and the one that we have chosen is best suited for the airport,’’ said a senior official in the urban development ministry. Cidco officials concurred and said that other proposed sites in Rewas and Kalyan were unsuitable. “The environmental impact and the cost of constructing an airport at either Rewas or Kalyan would be phenomenally higher than that of the Navi Mumbai site,’’ said a Cidco official.
“The site at Kalyan is partly defence land and is close to the Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) area. Besides, larger aircraft will not be able to land as the Haji Malang Hill is an obstruction,’’ he said, adding that short of razing the hill, the Kalyan site was not conducive to a functioning airport.
The second proposed site at Rewas-Mandwa is also partly owned by the defence. As it is near the coast, studies said that a part of the runway will have to cut through the sea. “There are several parameters that are taken into consideration when choosing a site for an airport. We have to study the circular periphery of 10 km around the site. Then we have to study wind direction and landing paths, among other technicalities. When taking into account all these parameters and requirements we found there was no suitable site than the one at Navi Mumbai,’’ said an official, adding that international civil aviation organisations based in Canada has given its go ahead to the Navi Mumbai airport.
Officials said that only Rs 2,340 core will be diverted towards filling land, rerouting rivers and replanting mangroves. “This is less than 25% of the total cost of the project, which is Rs 9,625 crore.’’ In its letter, the BEAG said that the choice of Navi Mumbai would destroy mangroves and also constrain future expansion of the airport. In fact, there is no mention in Cidco’s report of why other sites are not feasible. “The Navi Mumbai site is a lowlying marshy mudflat with two rivers and hills. The environmental impact assessment study by Cidco does not even talk about the feasibility of the airport at other possible sites. It is absolute dishonesty on the part of state officials,’’ said Debi Goenka, convenor of the Conservation Action Trust.
There is one way to mitigate the destruction. Initially, the MoEF had suggested building the runways on raised slabs and platforms above the mangrove land and rivers. “But the cost would run into over Rs 17,000 crore,’’ said another official.
Damage to the environment
161.5 hectares of mangroves will be re-planted on 450 hectares of land in Dahanu and Palghar | Cost Rs 400 crore A 6.5-km stretch of the Ulve River will be diverted. The river has its origins in the nearby Karnala bird sanctuary. Diverting and widening it will be a challenge as it calls for the creation of a river trench. The Ghadi River will be widened to 180-450 m from its existing 120-240 m width. It will also be rerouted | Cost Rs 240 crore Two “hillocks’’ will be flattened and their debris will be spread across the airport project area of 2,054 hectares to fill the land and make the ground ready for construction. Additional debris will have to be imported to fill up the land | Cost Rs 1,700 crore deadline. Work will be completed in 2 years .
