Time for an overhaul

Letters - January 31, 2012

Safe or unsafe?

Reaching for the Skies

THE Indian skies are not as generous and capacious as they appear to be in the rosy light of touristy optimism when it comes to accommodating the steadily increasing domestic and international aircraft flights. The "airport stress syndrome" has come to roost in India, following its establishment as the hub of burgeoning air traffic in the newly open Asian market.

Kingfisher and Cronies

Government bailouts planned for Vijay Mallya’s floundering airline are proof of how well crony capitalism is working in India

Near ready for take-off

The Union environment ministry is all set to approve the Navi Mumbai international airport. The ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended clearance to the airport on November 10 subject to conditions.

News 360° - Briefs

MINING ALARM IGNORED Some of the 33 Chilean miners trapped 700 metres underground for 69 days had informed the management about the risk of a cave-in three hours before it occurred. Their bosses told them not to stop the work.

More hurdles for Navi Mumbai airport

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest has asked the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) to re-examine the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the proposed airport in Navi Mumbai. It has also asked CIDCO to conduct fresh studies on the suitability of alternative sites.

Navi Mumbai airport hanging in air

AS MAHARASHTRA government pushes for Navi Mumbai as the only site for Mumbai's second airport, the environment ministry has asked for re-examination of three alternative sites. The ministry's expert appraisal committee (EAC) had expressed concerns over the project, saying it would lead to destruction of 121 hectares (ha) of mangroves, levelling of an 80-metre-high hill and diversion of two rivers.

Navi Mumbai appraisal

The project is a CRZ site It will destroy mangroves, divert two rivers and level a hill State and project promoter say no alternative sites but EAC believes otherwise EAC says weightage given to criteria not equal for all sites Baseline EIA data substandard, says EAC Project promoter, says EAC, must re-evaluate three other sites

Call to ground airport plan

OPPOSITION to the Tamil Nadu government's plan to construct a greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur near Chennai is growing.