Navi Mumbai airport construction to begin in Oct 2011: Cidco

Actual construction on the Navi Mumbai international airport, which received the much-awaited environment clearances early this week, would begin in October next year as certain formalities remained to be done, said the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), a nodal agency for the project.

The state-run Cidco would have to seek approval from the defence ministry and a nod from the Bombay High Court for cutting of mangroves and replantation at the project site.

Cidco would also have to seek forest clearance from the state environment and forests department and bring on board the project-affected persons for the implementation of relief and rehabilitation package.

Though Cidco has prepared a Rs 350-crore relief and rehabilitation package, people from the 17 villages to be affected by the project have not given their approval for the same.

"We have achieved some of the major milestones when the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granted environment clearance on November 23. One of the major requirements is seeking the approval of the Bombay High Court on cutting of the mangroves situated in a section of the land proposed for the airport.

The Experts Appraisal Committee had observed that the high court's nod in this regard is essential," a Cidco official said on anonymity.

"According to the environment clearance, Cidco would have to drop its plan to replant mangroves in Dahanu but carry out regeneration of mangrove in an area of 310 hectare at Kamothe and 60 hectare at the Moha Creek. MoEF has already granted its permission in this regard," he added.

The official also informed that clearance from the state environment and forests department would be necessary.