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Journalism of Courage
With the Navi Mumbai Airport getting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF),all eyes are now on the implementation of the project. Shashank Shekhar caught up with GS Gill,vice-chairman & managing director,City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO),the nodal body,and the overall in-charge of the project. Excerpts:
Can you outline the micro and macro economic impact the Navi Mumbai project will have on the region and the state at large?
Gill: The immediate benefits will be creation of employment,as the work on execution of the Rs 5000-crore project will give a big boost to economic activity in the region. In the long term,we expect high-end jobs migrating to Navi Mumbai. Development of high-end commercial and office spaces like the one by L&T at Seawoods railway station will get a push. In terms of logistics,there would be continuous movement of goods.
How hopeful were you about the project getting environmental clearance?
Gill: Very confident because the project tries to strike a balance between development and environment. CIDCO has provided 1500 hectares of land as mangrove protected forest and is developing a mangrove park with an investment of about Rs 80 crore.
Do you anticipate any more trouble as far as the project is concerned?
Gill: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),rehabilitation,land acquisition,and financial closure are major challenges,which will be met successfully.
Is relocation of the Project Affected People (PAPs) on track?
Gill: PAPs are to be taken into confidence and with their help a model rehab scheme will be implemented.
Given the immense amount of land filling and other works that are required,including changing course of a river,comment on the enormity of the project?
Gill: It is a big project and completing it within a time frame is a challenge. Appropriate organisational structure will be involved to see that the project is completed in time.
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