Tareekh pe Tareekh

Despite meetings and deliberations, approvals on the highly anticipated Navi Mumbai International airport project still remains elusive. At the recently conducted meeting in New Delhi, between the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) it seems that no clear conclusion has yet been arrived upon regarding the approvals on the much awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport project. The meeting which was held on September 22, revealed EAC's plans to send a team to the project site in October, to compare the ground condition of the area with the revised report, check the environmental challenges and potential damage to the mangroves and then present the final verdict. CIDCO's initially proposed plan has strongly been opposed by the ministry, considering the environmental fragility of the zone. CIDCO, which appears to be willing to make further changes to minimise diversion, however is still tight-lipped about the destruction of the 400 acre mangrove forests. Tanaji Satre, Managing Director, CIDCO, says, The proposal has been discussed. The committee accepts the need for an airport and following the site inspection, a decision will be made. A source from the Aviation Ministry on grounds of anonymity says, The in-principal was approved by the government long time ago. The Aviation Ministry is usually in charge of the techno-economical feasibility study and ensuring the possibility of building the airport at a given location, all of which has already been approved. Now CIDCO requires an approval of the Environment Ministry. The final project report is expected to be ready in October and the bidding is also likely to complete by mid-2011. Time is ticking and a speedy, conclusive and balanced verdict is unquestionably the need of the hour. But as usual we are very used to 'Tareekh pe Tareekh'!