There is a great need for undertaking diverse developmental programmes for the overall prosperity and growth of Odisha. This necessitates the State to be increasingly connected with other States as well as some important cities of the world. For this, the development and enhanced use of both highways and airways is very much essential.
While observing this, the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) has stated, “The Odisha Government has recently taken a policy decision to set up an airport near Puri city which bears great significance.
Given the importance of Puri as both a pilgrimage site and a tourist destination and its proximity to the State capital city of Bhubaneswar and the Sun Temple of Konark, the Government has considered the justification for this airport. After a recent team of Central experts visited Puri and explored some possible sites, the focus has now been on an area near the proposed Shamuka project in the Sipsarubali area.
However, before a final decision is taken on site selection, it is very pertinent for the Government to pay attention to a number of important environmental issues.”
As the sea level is rising steadily consequent to global warming and climate change, which are gaining momentum progressively, on the other hand, the likelihood of seawater intruding into many coastal cities and other areas of the world such as Puri is also slowly escalating.
The Puri coast has also been included as a hazardous zone. Conversely, as natural disasters such as cyclones are increasing gradually in number and intensity, the coastal regions, being susceptible to such hazards, are affected by such happenings to greater extent, the OES has pointed out.
The OES has further stated, “Everyone’s memory is still fresh how the 2019 Fani cyclone devastated Puri city as the sea level rose to five feet higher resulting in seawater infiltration into low-lying areas. Emphasis is now being placed on creation of a natural green belt by planting more trees in the coastal areas of the State which will reduce the impacts of the cyclones to some extent.
In some instances, the coastal areas also undergo geomorphic transformations by the effects of oceanic forces and are suffering from erosion, which was already witnessed in Puri a few years back.”
The establishment of an airport needs to be planned with a view to the next hundred years and priority should be given to the future security. Taking into account all these environmental aspects, it is necessary to determine the location at a safe distance from the coast, at least ten kilometers away. It is also important to pay attention to maintenance of the quality of the environment and safety of the biodiversity of the locality.
Another issue for consideration is to protect the freshwater-available areas in Puri which is scarce. Before a final decision regarding the airport site is reached, all these environmental issues of concern need to be examined at length, OES president Dr Sundara Narayana Patro and secretary Dr Jaya Krushna Panigrahi have opined.