THERE seems to be no limit to the harmdone on the environment in the nameof development., At least one lakh trees- mainly coconut - are proposed tobe felled to clear the ground for a proposed airport in Lakshadweep.
The local government has plannedto construct an airstrip in the Apdrothisland, capital of Lakshadweep. Theadministration has submitted therequired'environment impact.assessment (MA) report and the environmentmanagement plan to the Union environment and forests ministry.
According to the EiA report, a totalof 54,300 coconut trees would be felledto pave the way for the airport whichwill come up in 88.4 ha of land.However, a team of officials of AirportsAuthority of India, the administrationand the environment and forests ministry have made some investigationswhich raise pertinent questions aboutthe project. According to the environmentalist Pratibha Pande, the massivedeforestation would affect the localenvironment, resulting in depletion ofgroundwater level which wouldadversely affect the coconut plantations in the island.