08 March 2004

Reg.: Construction of 2nd Runway and Terminal Tower at Mangalore Airport being illegal

Dear Dr. Zaidi,

We wish to bring to your attention the following:

1. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India based on a Public Interest Petition of Environment Support Group and Ors (SLP (Civil) No. CC: 1172 of 2003), has stated that in constructing of the 2nd Runway and Terminal Tower at Mangalore Airport, “the Government shall comply with all applicable laws and also with environmental norms”. The case was set forth before the Hon’ble Court that the extension of the Mangalore Airport was being undertaken by the Airports Authority of India and others concerned in blatant violation of significant provisions of statutes concerning airport development. In particular it was highlighted that such action would jeopardize passenger safety, put local communities to risk, needlessly dislocate people by acquiring land on a location that in no way could comply with the said provisions and thereby contributed to gross wastage of public money and resources. This order was issued on 07 February 2003 and copy of the same is enclosed as Annexure A.

2. This order was publicized throughout the country and abroad by way of a Press Release by Environment Support Group explaining the implications. This Release was reported widely. A copy of this Release and some reports covering the same is enclosed at Annexure B.

3. In addition a copy of the order was mailed to the Director, Mangalore Airport and the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada District.

4. In blatant violation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order, the Airports Authority of India invited tenders for the work of “Construction of New Runway and Allied Works at Mangalore Airport, Sub Head: Construction of New Runway, Strengthening of Existing Runway, Extension and Strengthening of Apron, Taxi-Track, Constructin of Shoulders and Associated Electrical Works” for an estimated cost of Rs. 4023.19 lakhs with period of completion of 18 months. The tender closed on 27 November 2003 and work has been initiated since. This even after we telephonically informed Mr. Vasudev, Director, Mangalore Airport, when the closure of tender was due, that such actions are illegal in the context of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s direction.

5. Further, in blatant disregard for the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s direction, the Government of Karnataka and Airports Authority of India jointly announced on 25 January 2004 that work would be initiated on the expansion of the airport soon. Copies of newspaper reports highlighting the same are annexed at Annexure C.

6. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has also initiated action in violation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order by undertaking a review of the airport for grant of environmental clearance, even as no application for seeking environmental clearance has been made, per law, by the Airports Authority of India. A copy of the process file from the MoEF website highlighting this fact is annexed at Annexure D.

Keeping the above in view, we urge you to immediately stop all activities in connection with the development and expansion of the Mangalore Airport.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

Arthur Pereira                               Leo F. Saldanha
Petitioner                                    Petitioner
                                                 For Environment Support Group

Address for Contact:
Environment Support Group, S-3, Rajashree Apartments, 18/57, 1st Main, SRK Gardens, Bannerghatta Road, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560041. Telefax: 91-80-26341977/26531339
Email: [email protected]

Cc.:
1. Member Secretary, Planning Commission of India
2. Mr. K. K. Mishra, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka
3. Mr. H. M. Revanna, Hon’ble Minister of State for Infrastructure and Civil Avation, Government of Karnataka
4. Mr. B. Ramnath Rai, Hon’ble Minister for Transport and District In-charge (Dakshina Kannada)
5. Dr. E. V. Muley, Additional Director and Member Secretary, Expert Committee on Infrastructure Projects Clearances, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India
6. Mr. Vasudev Rao, Director, Mangalore Airport
7. Mr. Gokul Ram, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Ecology, Environment and Forests, Government of Karnataka
8. Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
9. Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Cell (South), Ministry of Environment and Forests
10. Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka