Context & Background
- Proposal: The Odisha government sought clearance for converting 273.8 hectares of forest land in Puri’s Sipasarubali area for the construction of a Shree Jagannath International Airport.
- Estimated Cost: ₹3,631 crore.
- Approval Status: Deferred by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Environment Ministry due to ecological and biodiversity concerns.
Relevance : GS 3(Infrastructure ,Environment and Ecology)
Environmental Concerns Raised
Olive Ridley Turtles:
- Arribada : Odisha hosts one of the world’s largest mass nesting sites at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya.
- The FAC cited threats to nesting grounds, migratory behavior, and hatching success.
- Past nesting data: 34.5 lakh turtles were detected in Brahmagiri area (March 2025).
- ZSI Study recommended a site-specific wildlife conservation plan.
Migratory Birds:
- The proposed site is close to Chilika Lake, a Ramsar site and critical bird habitat.
- Part of the Central Asian Flyway—used by migratory birds from Siberia to South Asia.
- FAC warned of disruptions to flight paths, particularly with aircraft operating at low altitudes.
Dolphins & Other Wildlife:
- Threats to Irrawaddy dolphins and other coastal species due to increased noise and habitat disruption.
Forest & Biodiversity Loss
- Over 13,000 trees (casuarina, cashew, acacia) to be felled — trees that naturally buffer cyclones.
- Potential to weaken the coastline’s resilience to extreme weather events.
Regulatory & Scientific Inputs
- FAC directed the state to:
- Prepare a “climate eventuality” mitigation plan.
- Justify the need to use forest land despite ecological risks.
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) were consulted for impact studies.
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII) asked to assess mitigation options.
Operational Issues Highlighted
- The proposed flight path overlaps with migratory bird routes.
- Bird strikes and air safety risks could increase if proper safeguards are not adopted.
Comparative Global Perspectives
- Dubai, Singapore, and Heathrow airports have eco-mitigation zones for migratory birds and nesting species.
- India’s proposal lacks a multi-agency ecological buffer plan, unlike international best practices.
Interlinkages with Key Laws & Policies
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- Environment Protection Act, 1986
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules
- Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980
- India’s obligations under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Additional Facts
- Over 39,000 turtle eggs collected and 388 hatchlings released in 2025 in the Brahmagiri forest division.
- 1,400m boundary wall already constructed — flagged by inspection reports.
- Odisha is the only Indian state with three mass nesting sites for Olive Ridleys.
Challenges & Policy Concerns
- Lack of prior biodiversity impact mapping before site finalization.
- Top-down infrastructure push conflicting with bottom-up ecological data.
- Absence of a standard protocol to reconcile development with biodiversity conservation.
Way Forward
- Explore alternate sites with lower ecological sensitivity.
- Integrate multi-stakeholder Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), including local communities and independent ecologists.
- Develop an airport-wildlife coexistence policy, similar to UN-IATA frameworks.
- Promote eco-sensitive zoning and green infrastructure design.
