EAC team inspects Navi Mumbai airport site, clearance expected next month
21 Oct 2010
A Ministry of Environment and Forests' expert appraisal committee (EAC) team today inspected the site of the proposed international airport at Navi Mumbai. Discussions with the state and CIDCO are expected to be held over the next two days.
According to TC Benjamin, principal secretary of the state urban development department, the members went around and saw the site and the surrounding areas.
The team which spent two hours at the site traveled in an eight-car motorcade and visited key spots and examined maps. CIDCO and other government officials showed them maps and proposed various options for mitigation of environmental impact.
The team inspected the 400-acre stretch of mangroves that would need to be removed, a 92-metre hill that would be razed and the rivers Ulwe and Gadhi which were to be diverted under the initial proposal.
According to Naresh Dayal, heading the EAC, the team had come to assess the site. He said there would be discussions over the next two days with CIDCO officials.
When the Civil Aviation Ministry team has assessed the site a month ago, they had come up against disgruntled villagers, but this time there was heavy police presence along the route the visitors took, though they did not meet any villagers at Waghavli.
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