SC approves construction of third runway at IGI Airport

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI)The Supreme Court today granted permission to Larsen and Toubro Limited to go ahead with the construction of 4.8 kilometre-long third runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport to reduce traffic congestion.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, P K Balasubramanyan and D K Jain permitted the company to go ahead with the construction subject to the compliance of 13 conditions imposed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in oder to minimise environmental damage in the area.

The Court also permitted the company to set up Hot Mix Plant (HMP) subject to the condition that emission level should not exceed the limit of 50 mg/nmq.

In an HMP the minimum temperature required is 140 degree celsius and daily requirement of HM is 2,500 per day. Since no HMP of such capacity is available within close proximity of IGI airport, CPCB has no objection for setting up of the two HMPs of the state-of-art technology in the area.

The HMP should be operated for a period of two years from the date of their installation or till the resurfacing of the runways at terminal-3 along with all associated facilites like apron,parking ways etc are competed, whichever is earlier.

The visibility at the airport area should not be affected or reduced because of the operation of HMPs, the Apex Court said.

The judgement also said the noise level should be expressed in leq for eight hours (65 dBA) during working hours and 55 dBA for all the time. Visual capacity should be maximised by appropriate land scaping/screening or enclosure of the plant and approval must be taken from Airport Authority of India before setting up of HMPs.

Officials of CPCB or DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) will be allowed to inspect and monitor the environmental parameters during operations of HMPs.

The Court also directed the fugitive dust emmision should not cause significant nuisance outside the plant boundary or at the nearest dwelling and all incidental ways should be minimised and disposed off accordingly.

UNI