Published: Sunday, Aug 1, 2010, 2:20 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_praful-patel-to-ask-sonia-gandhi-to-sort-out-navi-mumbai-airport-imbroglio_1417166
The tussle over the Navi Mumbai Airport project is set to take a new turn, with the minister of state for civil aviation, Praful Patel, deciding to take up the issue with prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
With the environment ministry not giving clearance to the airport project, Patel did mention the issue briefly to the PM during the recent inauguration of Delhi’s new Indira Gandhi International Airport. But things have since worsened, with the environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh publicly suggesting that the location of the airport project be changed.
Patel told DNA, “I am going to take up the matter with the PM and Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The matter should be referred to a Group of Ministers as one ministry is delaying it.”
Jaiam Ramesh, however, blamed the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) for the delay. “The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) in its meeting on July 21 had asked for clarifications from CIDCO,” Ramesh said. He also clarified that the EAC had to give its report within 105 days after receipt of “complete information.”
