Airport panel wants green zone near site

After meeting the central Expert Appraisal Committee on Thursday, state officials said environment clearance for the Navi Mumbai airport site is in sight.

After meeting the central Expert Appraisal Committee on Thursday, state officials said environment clearance for the Navi Mumbai airport site is in sight. “Things are moving in the right direction and we hope to begin the project soon,” sad CM Ashok Chavan.

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Tanaji Satre, managing director of Cidco, said the panel discussed the revised plan for the airport and asked Cidco to convert 250 hectares of mangroves north of the site into a protected area to prevent constructions there in future. The state has agreed to do so. The area was initially meant to have non-aeronautical constructions but the plan was revised to shift these structures to the south.

“The panel’s main concern was the mangrove stretch. They have asked us to come up with a plan to minimise the damage to ecology,” Satre said.