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Why not shut down Environment Ministry? Uddhav

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday took note of the differing stand of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and said that if no one was paying attention to what the MoEF was saying vis-a-vis the proposed Navi Mumbai airport, then it should be shut down.

Speaking informally to the media, Mr. Thackeray said he had waited for Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh's views on the new airport before making his stand clear. “Why have a department for environment if no one is taking it seriously,” he asked.

He said the environmental impact of the new airport which involved diverting two rivers, clearing a hillock and a large tract of mangroves would be devastating. The impact would be felt by the local people and not Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

He suggested that other sites could be examined with lesser impact on the environment, instead of persisting with Navi Mumbai. “How can two departments of the Centre have two such differing views on the airport? One department is pushing for it even as the other is raising certain environment concerns.”

The meeting with the print media marked a new turn in the affairs of the Sena. Till now, it has been rather guarded about interaction with journalists and Mr. Thackeray is a media-shy person. From now on, he has promised to have regular interactions with journalists and clarify important matters.

He said Mumbai too had problems of its own regarding development and a proposed bill wanted to dilute the powers of Mumbai's municipal corporation which the Sena controls.

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Why not shut down Environment Ministry? Uddhav

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