Conditional environmental clearance for ₹8,707-crore Thiruvananthapuram airport expansion project

The environmental clearance (EC) for the proposed expansion of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has been granted by the State Expert Appraisal Committee-1 (SEAC-1), subject to strict conditions, clearing the way for the proposed ₹8,707-crore project.

Recommending an integrated EC along with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for a period of 10 years, the SEAC directed the airport authorities to ensure that stormwater run-off is routed through properly designed oil-water separators and silt traps before being discharged into the adjacent Parvathy Puthanar canal, to prevent contamination of the waterway.

The committee also directed that a dedicated green area of two hectares be maintained in accordance with the project’s Landscape Master Plan. Of the approximately 280 trees likely to be affected by the expansion, timber-yielding species should be prioritised for transplantation, the SEAC said.