Environment
Puri airport wins final environmental clearance
Hindustan Times··5d ago
Odisha's proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri received final environmental clearance from the Environment Ministry. The Sipasarubali project covers 471.348 hectares, including 27.887 hectares of forest land, about 5 km from the Jagannath temple. Phase-I is planned for 4.6 million passengers a year. Puri collector Dibya Jyoti Parida said CRZ clearance was also granted.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Odisha still needs a formal ministry NOC before asking AAI to prepare the DPR.
- Phase-I capacity is listed at 4.6 million passengers a year.
- Forest diversion of 27.887 hectares carries compensatory afforestation conditions.
What's Happening
- Parida said environmental, CRZ and forest-related clearances are in hand.
- Stage-I forest approval came with 33 conditions, including afforestation on 29.939 hectares.
- Officials said construction would be coordinated with AAI and state transport.
Why Wildlife Experts Objected
- The Wildlife Institute of India had recommended rejecting the site over bird-strike risk.
- WII noted the boundary is about 16 km from Chilika Lake, a Ramsar wetland.
- Concerns also covered Olive Ridley turtle habitat and Central Asian Flyway corridors.
all-news
