Overview

• At its June 26 meeting, the Expert Appraisal Committee under MoEF&CC recommended environmental clearance for the 1,164-acre greenfield airport near Puri.
• Stage-I forest clearance for 68 acres of district-level forest land is now pending final signoff by the Forest Advisory Committee and the ministry.
• MoEF&CC’s June 24 advisory panel requested an ASI no-objection certificate and wildlife mitigation plans addressing Olive Ridley turtles, dolphins and migratory birds.
• The Wildlife Institute of India is drafting the required conservation plan in collaboration with Odisha’s Commerce & Transport Department, which has already submitted compliance documentation.
• Odisha officials are finalizing RFP modalities to trigger the airport’s construction phase once all conditional clearances are secured.