Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday in Navsari said the proposed airport at Navi Mumbai would destroy a large swathe of mangroves.
"There are talks about a new airport in Navi Mumbai. If that airport comes up in the proposed area, 400 acres of mangroves would be destroyed," Ramesh, who was here to inaugurate a heritage project at Dandi village, told reporters.
Ramesh said Maharashtra should use the expertise of Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC), a state government agency, for mangrove conservation.
"I have suggested the Maharashtra Chief Minister to learn from the experience of GEC and utilise its services for mangrove conservation," he said.
In New Delhi yesterday, Ramesh had said there are "serious" ecological issues that need to be addressed before clearance is given to the airport near Mumbai.
He had said the project would be taken up for discussion on July 21-22 by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under his Ministry and then only its fate will be decided. PTI
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