The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change requests more details on Dhalbhumgarh Airport’s forest clearance proposal, clarifying the site isn’t within the Elephant Corridor.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has returned the Dhalbhumgarh Airport project’s forest clearance proposal to the Jharkhand government, seeking additional information and clarifications.
JAMSHEDPUR – The Dhalbhumgarh Airport project in East Singhbhum district has encountered a significant delay as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, returned the forest clearance proposal submitted by the Jharkhand government.
The Ministry has sought further details and clarifications regarding the project.
Despite the setback, the Ministry’s Decision Support System (DSS) analysis provided a key clarification that the proposed airport site does not fall within any recognized Elephant Corridor.
The nearest corridors, Dumriya-Nayagram and Dalapani-Kankrajhor, are 9.69 km and 14.61 km away, respectively.
The MoEF&CC has highlighted multiple concerns that need addressing before the project can move forward.
These include the impact on the local flora and fauna, with the proposed site being part of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve.
There is also a need for the Jharkhand government to justify the high number of trees affected—79,332 in total—as well as provide a detailed hydrological study, which has not yet been submitted.
Further, the Ministry raised issues related to compensatory afforestation, urging the state to identify non-forest land for this purpose, as required by the latest guidelines.
Additionally, the MoEF&CC pointed out discrepancies in the project’s documentation, including the lack of a comprehensive KML file and missing historical satellite imagery that shows changes in vegetation cover within the proposed site.
In light of these concerns, the Ministry has asked the Jharkhand government to review the project proposal, particularly concerning its environmental impact and adherence to legal frameworks.
Environmental and Wildlife Concerns
The project is not just facing procedural delays but also environmental scrutiny.
The area is moderately dense forest, with 44 hectares classified as open forest.
The Ministry’s report also flagged the presence of Schedule-I species, raising concerns about habitat fragmentation and the potential for increased human-elephant conflicts, which have been documented in the region.
An observer stated, “The development of this airport must carefully consider its long-term environmental impacts, especially in a region known for its rich biodiversity and elephant corridors.”
Shashank Shekhar Swain, a Rail, Aviation & Space Enthusiast and a member of Indian Railways Fan Club (IRFCA) & IndiaRailInfo (IRI) has expressed disappointment at the development. He said: “The latest developments are disappointing. However, we do hope that things would now be expedited despite these roadblocks. The ball is now once again in the state government’s court and one can only hope that the state government would respond at the earliest and ensure that the entire project passes through at all levels of scrutiny.”
Future Course of Action
With the MoEF&CC requiring these revisions and clarifications, the Jharkhand government will need to address these issues comprehensively to obtain the necessary clearances.
This delay could impact the timeline of the Dhalbhumgarh Airport project, which is seen as crucial for the region’s development.
