Team Herald
PANJIM: The regional empowered committee (REC), Bengaluru has permitted diversion of 6.856 hectares of forest land in Pernem, for the approach runway at Mopa Greenfield International Airport.
Directorate of Civil Aviation had moved a proposal for diversion of 6.856 ha of forest land for the purpose of CAT-I approach surface at Mopa airport in Survey No 19 of Chandel village in Pernem.
At its meeting held on April 29, REC examined the proposal and decided to approve the proposal with conditions, including that no construction activity will be taken up in the area proposed for diversion.
REC also said that wherever trees are proposed to be felled, stumps should be retained and appropriate soil and moisture conservation work should be taken up at the cost of the user agency.
“Felling or pollarding of trees as and when required shall be done in consultation with the Forest Department,” REC said.
The Forest Department has been directed to carry out monitoring on a six-monthly basis to ascertain any adverse impact on avifauna and man-animal conflict.
The department has to also identify and develop artificial nesting space for avifauna outside the funnel area.
At the same time, the Directorate of Civil Aviation has to ensure that a space is provided to the Forest Department as a centre for animal rescue to address man-animal conflict in the airport area, as the area is adjacent to forest.
The first phase of the Mopa Airport is expected to be commissioned in August this year. In its first phase the airport is expected to cater to 4.5 million passengers and at the end of fourth phase, its passenger handling capacity is expected to be 13 million annually.
