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DJB dampener on airport plan
September 09, 2007
New Delhi: Delhi International
Airport (P) Limited's (DIAL) plans of modernisation of the IGI
airport may have already hit turbulence. Ironically, the airport has
nothing to do with the issue in question but the Delhi
Jal Board, whose proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) at Kapashera
project has ruffled feathers of locals.
 The
plant in question is essential for the airport's modernisation plans
as it would be dealing with the waste of five villages - Mahipalpur,
Rajokri, Rangpuri, Sambhalka and Kapashera, which was otherwise flooding
the site of the new runway. However, the site being acquired for the
STP, a 400 acre plot, is next to the Kapashera village and is being
objected to because of the 'smell it would emanate'.
Said area MLA Vijay Lochav: ''We have suggested another
site to the DJB which is about 500 yards from their site but since
it belongs to an industrialist, they seem wary of taking it up. We
are happy with the plan of sewering the five villages but we are completely
against having the plant next to Kapashera.''
The MLA has shot off letters to the chief minister and the lieutenant-governor
and has been assured of action in the matter. ''They have
said that the matter will be studied further,'' said Lochav.
Sources in the DJB say that the present site was selected after various
studies were conducted and has been approved by the L-G. After notification,
its acquisition is the only step left to be taken. While DJB CEO Arun
Mathur said the project would proceed as planned, sources expressed
apprehension at the kind of pressure that was being built on them
to change the site. ''If the site is to be shifted, it
creates several problems of which availability of land is the least
severe. Costs could go up by a few crores and the project could take
an extra six months or so for completion. The new site would have
to be studied for its hydrography and land composition which may or
may not be suitable for our purpose,'' said a DJB official.
According to DIAL officials, a delay like this could severely hamper
the progress of their work. ''Work on the new runway has
already started and it should be ready by June 2008. However, we are
entirely dependent on DJB's STP project, as even if the runway
is complete, we will not be able to operate it. The International
Civil Aviation Organisation might simply not give us permission for
operation if the problem of waterlogging at the runway is not solved.
Secondly, if the sewage treatment plant is not ready on time, the
exposed, overflowing sewage could attract birds that may lead to cases
of bird hits,'' said a DIAL official.
Source: The Times of India
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