Ramesh ready to consider Navi Mumbai but green panel still talks of alternatives

“The committee noted that the weightage criteria for the shortlisted sites,Wada,Ansoli,Kalyan and Navi Mumbai,was not rationally allocated. CIDCO submitted the details giving weightage to cutting,filling with quantities,diversion/training of rivers,rehabilitation of population and land acquisition/possession and has ranked the Navi Mumbai site as the best. CIDCO has not submitted any financial implications of the mitigation measures at the above four sites or the costs of land acquisition at the four sites,” read the minutes of EAC’s last meeting on September 22.

“The committee felt that environmental costs and impacts as well as the security considerations must be added in the set of identified parameters for selection of alternative sites. Land acquisition as a parameter in this analysis is relatively less significant,” it said.

Acting chief of CIDCO Tanaji Satre said a detailed report would be submitted to the EAC before it arrives for a site visit,expected after October 18.

The Navi Mumbai site has been fiercely opposed by the Environment Ministry while the state government and the Civil Aviation Ministry are of the opinion that there is no site more suitable for a second airport in Mumbai.

Seeking to arrive at a compromise,Jairam Ramesh had said,“I have said this earlier and I am telling you again,I am willing to believe that there is no alternative to the Navi Mumbai site. I am ready to take it ahead from there. I have told (Civil Aviation Minister) Praful Patel that we need to sit down and discuss how to minimise the environmental damage at the Navi Mumbai site.”

Asked about the EAC’s views,Ramesh said the committee was only following the process laid down by law. “A compromise can only be found at the political level. You cannot expect a technical body to look for a compromise.”