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EIA report of Navi Mumbai airport

While Studying EIA as it is my our syllabus , I was bit curious to know how EIA of Airport are made. I searched few EIA reports on net and also EIA of Navi Mumbai Airport.(attached pdfs of EIA of Navi Mumbai Airport from net) Few things about which I am confused are :

According to the report:

1) Ulwe river comes in Airport area (will will be diverted foe project purpose later)

2) The Elephanta Caves are at 13.5km from the project

3) Panvel Railway station is 1.5km from the project.

My doubts:

1) The distance between Ulwe and Elephanta Cave is with in 10 km (if i am not wrong).

2) Karnala Bird Sanctuary is in Panvel panvel 2 karnala map shows the fact how it is Gate of Sanctury is 13.5km from panvel railway station and not the sanctuary itself.

One from above is Eco-sensitive zone and other is Historical monument.

So I wonder ,how the project has been passed?

These are the major things I observed. I am unaware of many things, so please if any one who can help me know how this 2 points are write or wrong. It would be helpful if you answer as soon as possible.

Thank You.

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Comment by PRAKASH CHANDRA JHA on April 9, 2013 at 1:18am: Dear All,

I would like to know the software used for noise impact assessment.

Comment by Hemant G. Tripathi on April 4, 2013 at 8:47am: The New Mumbai Airport Env Report first of all doesn't appropriately measure Ecological impact. What it does is simple documentation. One cannot protect/conserve or mitigate what one cannot measure. The proposed airport clearly violates CRZ (offcourse unless it was amended as per the suitability of the project) It also violates Hon’ble Bombay High Court orders which prohibit any destruction of mangroves. Destruction of so much mangroves can be bad for the coastal and stitched city like Mumbai. The mangroves act as buffer. The two dominating mangrove species mentioned in the EIA report are common. But the report doesnt mention/consider that the same very vegetation zone had important and key mangrove species such as a Rhizophora and Sonneretia which are still encountered at various places in Mumbai. The potential and value of the habitat is very poorly measured. Also, the compensatory mangrove plantation is nothing but a myth. Mangrove ecosystems are highly sensitive. They can be restored at a place where they existed but creating them all over again is difficult The proponent proposes that mangroves will be restored and recreated in areas around Panvel creek. There is already mangrove ecosystem in panvel which itself is degraded and disturbed. The relevance and objectivity of the so called compensatory plantation is questionable.

I am not for or against the project. But I must say the Ecological cost at which the project is coming can be extremely high and the biggest problem is- the ecological cost of the project is not well quantified.

Comment by BIJAYA NANDA DAS on April 4, 2013 at 7:40am: Dear sonal

some of the points raised by you have some merit and others not.The bird sanctuary and and elephanta issue has been suitably replied.Regarding low flying aircraft no solution is found.the river is to be diverted,it is not a bad thing,as such these water courses have become drains.

for such high rise population logistics like airport is very important.I remember moef was delaying the sanction. any way can you suggest any alternative.

Comment by jayesh narayan idate on April 4, 2013 at 4:54am: I agree with sunny

Comment by Sunny Gangar on April 4, 2013 at 2:49am: Ms. Sonal,

The project is bound to happen.. whatever is the cost..
the bright side is the developer is CIDCO who happens to be the good guy as they have been doing a good developing work in Navi Mumbai..

As far as the Low flying Aircrafts are concerned, I will say that point is not applicable as it cant be measured.. and also the damage done by such can not be measured even with time. saying the later part cas - Its been accepted that with time nature will be different and thus any damage measured in future cant be *fully* attributed to the this project development/work activity.

Comment by Sonal Gadhave on April 3, 2013 at 9:30am: ANANDRAJ M.A Sir , thank you very much for clearing my ques.

Comment by ANANDRAJ M.A on April 3, 2013 at 9:07am: Dear Sonal Gadhave, as per the current law and policy system, Navi Mumbai Airport is not vioalating the rules or regulation regarding the Elephanta Cave and Karnala Bird sanctuary.

Firstup all, take the case of Elephanta Caves; All the heritage site is protected under the Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Sites & Remains Act 1959, which states that any construction activity is restricted in the prohibited area (i.e 100 m from the protected monumet) of and in a regulated area (i.e 300 m from the protected monumet), except under and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence granted by the Director-General. Since the project is far away (>300 m) from the Elephanta Caves, this is act is not applicable and hence not violating.

Karnala Bird Sanctuary, is coming under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which states a construction activity within the 10 km boundary of the protected area, have to get the clearance from standing committee of National Wilflife Board of India. Since the said sanctuary is more than 10 km from the project, this act is not applicable in this case. But please note that low flying aircraft could have adverse impact on the Karnala bird sanctuary.

For Ulwe river. four major bottlenecks before the Rs 8,722-crore project were diversion of a river (Gadhi) and a tidally-influenced water body (Ulwe), destruction of a section of a mangrove zone, which acts as a buffer for Mumbai city, and razing a 90-metre hillock that comes in the way of the flight path.
As part of the compromise, the Gadhi will not be diverted but Ulwe has to be recoursed after taking steps to minimise the ecological damage. The hillock and a portion of mangrove forest will be destroyed.
However, the project developer, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), has promised to create a new mangrove park. Also, the construction can start only after CIDCO rehabilitates 3,000 families from seven villages within the airport zone.

Comment by Hemant G. Tripathi on April 3, 2013 at 7:33am: This project violates many ecological points...

Comment by Sonal Gadhave on April 3, 2013 at 6:48am: I think if the project is not following norms and still is passed. It will affect entire ecosystem, not today but someday in some form,directly or indirectly, the mangroves, Monument and Sanctuary cant protest as they cant Speak :) So hope for the best.