Union minister for environment & forests, Jairam Ramesh has clarified that the Centre has not given any environment clearance to the Navi Mumbai Airport, which entails an investment of over Rs 9,000 crore. Speaking at a public hearing on coastal management zone in Mumbai, Ramesh said his ministry had only approved the terms of reference for the environment impact Study for the Navi Mumbai Airport.
?I am aware that there are constraints to expanding the present Mumbai airport. However, as a minister, I am also committed to protecting the environment,? Ramesh said. The minister informed that the study, which is being conducted by IIT Mumbai, will take approximately 9-12 months. He said the IIT Mumbai has been asked to take the services of the best international expertise for the study. Ramesh also said that one of the terms of reference was about finding ways to neutralise the impact of destruction of the mangrove forest in the area.
Highlighting the need to bring amendments to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991, the minister said that as per recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Committee, the government would protect traditional rights of the fisherman community on the lines of similar provisions made in the Forest Tribal Act. Ramesh clarified that the Central government was not in favour of higher FSI (Floor Space Index) for Mumbai. He said that the Swaminathan Committee had only opened a window of opportunity for construction of housing for low income groups from weaker sections in the CRZ areas. The minister said that these houses would be constructed through public finance and not by private builders. While recognising the specific needs of Mumbai on CRZ, the minister said that he would take into account the problems of the 60,000 families living in dilapidated buildings in the CRZ areas in India?s commercial capital and their need for redevelopment.
While asserting that implementation of the CRZ Act would be responsibility of State governments, Ramesh also said that there would be provision of penalty for those violating the provisions of the CRZ Act. The minister also informed that the National Green Tribunal, which would be operational by this year end, would take up cases relating to violation of CRZ regulations. The ministry for environment & forests would also be conducting public hearings at Chennai, Panaji, Kochi and Bhuvneshwar in coming days. Centre plans to introduce the amended CRZ Notification during the winter session of Parliament.