Clear the runway

It is transparently clear by now that Mumbai needs another airport. It has also become evident that the city cannot wait for too long; the current airport is bumping up against the limits of its capacity,with severe repercussions for Mumbais future as a hub for international finance and an entrepot for the investment that India badly needs. Yet the Central environment ministry has chosen to be obstructionist and maximalist in its demands requiring the state government to look again at locations deemed unworkable earlier.

The Maharashtra government on Thursday demonstrated that it is willing to work within reasonable environmental constraints. If the northern end of the Navi Mumbai plot is particularly difficult,then non-aeronautical operations can be shifted to the south,minimising the environmental impact. The state government has also had external consultants,working to ensure that the airports footprint doesnt crush more than it should. But heres the question: why hasnt this happened already? Much of the blame should attach to Maharashtras famously lazy government. But this is made much worse by the environment ministrys worldview,which inclines it towards straightforward denial. Why work with the state to make the airport happen? Why not instead make it do all the running,and casually dismiss its efforts at the last possible moment as simply not enough? Or as not meeting a set of requirements that will stretch,magically,the more theyre filled?

Mumbais airport cannot be held hostage by this kind of thinking. Indeed,this serves as a test case for the environment ministrys entire approach to its regulatory function. The minister has repeatedly said that he doesnt want his ministrys work to be seen as an obstacle to reform. That claim would carry some weight only if he demonstrated a willingness to,first,be clear about what would moderate environmental impact sufficiently for clearance to be granted,rather than flatly announcing the inviolacy of mangroves; and,second,to work towards enabling the state government and similar project-builders to meet stable,fair,reasonable requirements. Mumbais airport will demonstrate whether these lessons have taken hold.