The government proposal to construct a feeder airport at Panamaram in Wayanad district has run into stiff opposition from the Kerala State Biodiversity Board. The board is preparing to write to the government, pointing out the ecological consequences of the project. A preliminary investigation by the board had revealed that the site identified for the airstrip was ecologically sensitive and hence unsuitable for the project. In a report submitted to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), KSBB member secretary K.P. Laladhas said the site harboured a remarkable wetland and was a natural breeding ground for several bird species. It was also home to tribal people.
“Since the project area is ecologically fragile, no land modification is feasible. The Panamaram wetland and the tribal population have to be considered in the conservation perspective,” he said. The NBA had called for a report from the board on the basis of a representation from the Mechery Agricultural Land Protection Forum.
Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, KSBB, told The Hindu that the board would submit its observations to the government shortly. “We are not against the idea of a feeder airport for Wayanad but an ecologically fragile area such as Panamaram cannot be considered for the project.”
The board report said 169.28 acres of the 337.64 acres identified for the project was under paddy cultivation, with the rest under cash crops. It observed that the area was home to 308 tribal people who played a key role in agrobiodiversity conservation.
The board has suggested a detailed Environment Impact Assessment study by an accredited agency before taking a final decision on the project. The proposed feeder airport seeks to link Wayanad with other airports in Kerala and neighbouring States. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has invited expressions of interest for consultancy after a feasibility study by the Airports Authority of India identified Panamaram as the most suitable site.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/feeder-airport-project-runs-into-rough-weather/article4424112.ece
“Since the project area is ecologically fragile, no land modification is feasible. The Panamaram wetland and the tribal population have to be considered in the conservation perspective,” he said. The NBA had called for a report from the board on the basis of a representation from the Mechery Agricultural Land Protection Forum.
Oommen V. Oommen, Chairman, KSBB, told The Hindu that the board would submit its observations to the government shortly. “We are not against the idea of a feeder airport for Wayanad but an ecologically fragile area such as Panamaram cannot be considered for the project.”
The board report said 169.28 acres of the 337.64 acres identified for the project was under paddy cultivation, with the rest under cash crops. It observed that the area was home to 308 tribal people who played a key role in agrobiodiversity conservation.
The board has suggested a detailed Environment Impact Assessment study by an accredited agency before taking a final decision on the project. The proposed feeder airport seeks to link Wayanad with other airports in Kerala and neighbouring States. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has invited expressions of interest for consultancy after a feasibility study by the Airports Authority of India identified Panamaram as the most suitable site.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/feeder-airport-project-runs-into-rough-weather/article4424112.ece
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