The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment has postponed its approval for the proposed International Airport in Puri, Odisha, citing the concerns of its regional office, explaining the potential loss about the potential losses about the concerns of its regional office. Olive Ridley TurtleIrawadi dolphins and migratory birds, and the impact of the loss of 13,000 trees that protect the beach from the cyclone.
The FAC, which examines the proposals seeking forest land for large projects, asked the Odisha government to adopt a precautionary approach and to mention the case to the Wildlife Institute (WII) of India.
“Olive Ridley Turtle, with Irawadi dolphins, will seek WiI’s comments and recommendations on the state, state, keeping in mind the concerns raised regarding migration routes, dangers and conservation requirements with Irawadi dolphin,” FAC said, show the minutes of the June 24 meeting.
The airport of Shri Jagannath International Airport approved by the Union Ministry of Aviation on May 5 is proposed to come on about 471 hectares of land in Siparubali in Puri district. The state government has sought approval for the use of 27.88 hectares of forest land for the project, which costs an estimated `5,631 crore.
The Regional Office expressed concern that by cutting 13,000 trees – mostly the Cassurina, cashews, acacia and Noni – would remove a natural shield against cyclones in Puri. The FAC directed the Odisha government to hold the flying correct and present a mitigation scheme for “climate events”. Odisha is a particularly a cyclone-prone state.
In a detailed site inspection report, the regional office not only took potential risks in the Brahmagiri Forest Division, which were adjacent to the project site, but also millions of migratory birds who visit the Chilika Esturine Lake. It marked the capacity of the bird hit on the airplane.
“The border of the lake of Chilika (Satpada) is about 10–11 km from the proposed area. The Olive Ridley Nessing Site in Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary is 2.3 km from the proposed airport site, and it is also embodied on the site for the sea and beach.”
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The Odisha government told FAC that on March 20 this year, 345 Olive Ridley Turtle nest was detected in the Brahmagiri range, 39,811 eggs were collected and 388 hatching were left in the sea.
In response to the concerns raised by the Ministry on turtles, the state said that a site-specific wildlife conservation plan could be prepared, including detailed mitigation measures. On concerns over the dolphin, the state said that the Zoological Survey of India’s Regional Office in Gopalpur was conducting a study.
On concerns about the impact of the project on flyway, or migratory birds, the Odisha government said that flights from eastern to southern cities already work in the same airspace.
The state’s Commerce and Transport Department said, “All such flights usually pass over the Chilika Lake through the said Central Asian flyway and no adverse effects have been observed on the migration of birds.” The ZSI will also study the possible impact of the project on migratory birds.
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The Central Asian flyway is one of the nine major flyways or migration routes in the world. It is used by millions of birds, especially waterbirds. Flyway Siberia connects the most northern reproductive ground in South Asia and West Asia in Russia. India is an important stopover site for these birds.
The inspection report also stated that the state government should declare that more forest land was required for the project on the basis of official records. Members of the regional office also found that the van (Sanrakshan Ivam Samvardhan) was built in the violation of the 1980, 1980 as well as the coastal regulation area, a 1,400 meter long border wall was built on the forest land sought for the project.
The state government said that the border wall was a temporary and destroyed to prevent the encroachment of the project site proposed by the local people.
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