By Thursday,the future of the Rs 9,625-crore Navi Mumbai airport will likely be decided by the Centres 13-member expert committee for infrastructure. The committee,with MoEF director (scientific) Bharat Bhushan as its member secretary,will mull over the environment impact assessment of the project for two days,after the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had raised concerns over the ecological implications of the project earlier this month. A copy of the EIA report,which has been accessed by Newsline,indicates that the 1,140 hectares in Navi Mumbai,Panvel Taluka,is possibly the only available,feasible and viable land for construction of the citys second international airport. The EIA was conducted by IITs Centre of Environmental Sciences and Engineering department along with the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS),Pune,and 12 other consultants. The report said the site was selected after a detailed study of alternative sites including Rewas-Mandwa in Raigad and Mahapan in Sindhudurg. While Mahapan was rejected early because of its distance from Mumbai,about 8-10 hours by road,close competitor Rewas-Mandwa was rejected after consideration of the high capital cost,destruction of scenic coastal environment,rehabilitation of 14 villages,strong local opposition,as well as the Navys presence in the area. While Ramesh has voiced concern over the diversion of Gadhi and Ulwe rivers flowing through the airport,the EIA said a mathematical and physical model study by CWPRS has revealed that the diversions were feasible without any adverse impact on the region. The study was backed by other ground water and coastline studies,the report said. Besides,separate studies were carried out to examine options like construction of an airport on stilts,runway orientation,security,operation and maintenance and cost implications,before concluding that the development of airport without diverting the rivers was not technically feasible and viable. The training of Gadhi river and diversion of Ulwe river for development of airport is essential,cost-effective,less environmentally damaging,hydraulically efficient and easy for construction,maintenance and operation point of view, it concluded. The diversions are estimated to cost Rs 230 crore,Rs 138 crore for Gadhi and Rs 92 crore for Ulwe. The report cited studies of coastal wetland maps of the project area in 1992,2001,2006 and 2009 to conclude that dense mangroves,sparse mangroves,mudflats,and water bodies were present at the Navi Mumbai airport spot. Jayant Kulkarni,general manager (SEZ),CIDCO,said,We anticipate a loss of about 161.50 hectares of mangrove for the airport project for which we will compensate by replanting at various spots nearby. The report said: In accordance with the Bombay High Court,the compensatory forestry shall be double the area of loss of mangroves. A search for suitable sites in Navi Mumbai and elsewhere was carried out with the help of the Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC). About 500 hectares of mudflats from Vasai to Dahanu,covering Nalasopara,Virar,Narangi,Murba,Satpati,Kamboda,Givali villages of Palghar and Dahanu talukas were studied and about 350 hectare identified in Dahanu,Satpati and Murbadand other areas,the EIA said. Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environmentalist Action Group,however,said the High Court in its 2005 ruling had called for a total ban on mangrove destruction. There is no rule allowing replantation of mangroves as per the court order, he said. A CIDCO official said they plan,following approval by the MoEF,to approach the court seeking that the project be considered on the basis of its importance. HOW THE SITES COMPARENavi Mumbai,strengths.: Land available with CIDCO; site accessible by all modes of transport; all basic supporting infrastructure available; townships in vicinity to house airport workforce; support from local population; metropolitan region gets alternative airfield; lower capital cost; area in seismic Zone III .and weaknesses: Acquisition of 457 hectares; elocation of Tata,state electricity lines; diversion of Ulwe river and training of Gadhi; falls in CRZ area; rehabilitation from 10 settlements,population 15,000 Rewas-Mandwa,strengths: Allows unconstrained growth; obstruction-free approach path,has potential to turn into a hub .and weaknesses: Acquisition of 2,000 hectares; rehabilitation from 14 villages (population 30,000); absence of basic infrastructure; absence of commuter rail link; high capital cost; requires development of township for 50,000 families; destruction to scenic coastal beauty; falls in CRZ and eco-sensitive zone; airport must be closed during Navy practice; opposition from local population
