No clearance from Environment Ministry for the Idukki airstrip, Centre tells Kerala HC

By Online Desk

CHENNAI: The Centre on Friday objected to the airstrip being constructed in Idukki. The Centre knowledgeable the Kerala High Court that clearance has not been secured from the Ministry of Environment and Forest for the Rs 13 crore, airstrip venture at Sathram close to Vandiperiyar within the Idukki district.

Environmentalists are of the view that the airstrip is more likely to have an effect on the wildlife and ecology of Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Tiger Reserve is dwelling to uncommon endemic natural world.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court Justice CS Dias and Justice C Jayachandran had been coping with a PIL looking for a course to state authorities to not proceed with the development of the airstrip and operation of aircrafts in 4.8565 hectares with out acquiring clearance underneath Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act and Environmental Clearance.

According to Live Law, the Centre knowledgeable the High Court that the state authorities has not sought permission to assemble an airstrip within the stated location and that no prior approval has been hunted for the venture though permission from the Ministry of Forest is necessary for the venture.

It was acknowledged that the connectivity between the wildlife areas are very essential for the motion of wildlife to make sure long run bodily and genetic viability of the inhabitants and that linear infrastructure improvement like, street, rail, canal, pipelines, rope-ways, transmission strains and so on crossing by way of such wildlife areas can act as menace for dispersal of wildlife, the report stated.

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Last month, an setting activist and petitioner, MN Jayachandran advised this every day that although authorities declare the aim of the airstrip is for coaching NCC cadets, the plan is to function small flights for vacationers. “If they need clearance from MoEF, the Wildlife Protection Act must be amended because it doesn’t enable the flying of plane over the protected forest areas,” he famous.

“The aircraft will be flying low over the Periyar reserve as the runway is located close to the border. The high-pitch sound of aircraft will scare away birds.  Wildlife is around 50 sq km of the PTR will undergo severe disturbance and it will affect the breeding ecology of tigers,” Jayachandran added.