NEW DELHI, March 28 � A Central panel has given its nod to an ambitious airport project in Itanagar in Arunanchal Pradesh, the first greenfield airport in the north-eastern State.
The Environment Ministry�s Expert Appraisal Committee for Building Construction Projects gave its approval to the project last month with suggestions to build necessary cross drainage at the site, official sources said.
The proposed airport is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 696.66 crore and has already got clearance from the Environment Ministry.
Nearly 250 hactres of reserved forestland will be cleared for the airport for construction of runway, terminal building and a small township at the site, they said.
The proposal, announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year under a special package, has got the backing of the local people during a public hearing organised by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
Clearing the proposal, the panel suggested the runways should have proper slopes to avoid flooding in surrounding areas while the architectural design of the terminal building should reflect local architectural style, the sources said.
Besides all recommendations of Environmental Monitoring Plan/Disaster Management Plan should be strictly complied with, the panel said.
The project site has a number of peaks and ravines and the average height of the peaks is in the range of 100 to 150 metres while two seasonal streams are also running across the area consisting of vegetation, bamboo among others. � PTI
