By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 14, 2018: A proposal by the union ministry of civil aviation to have a water aerodrome project at Chilika faces from opposition from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and even the BJP MLA Dilip Ray.

The ministry announced to have one water aerodrome each in Odisha and Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat in the first phase.

A day after the BJD opposed the project, Ray told media persons on Tuesday, “When noise pollution generated by the thousands of mechanized boats operating in the region has already taken a toll on the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins, the flagship species of Chilika Lagoon, the introduction of amphibious aircraft will further worsen the situation.”

Similarly, INTACH State convenor, A.B.Tripathy said that the delicate ecosystem of this Ramsar site will be severely affected by such activities. He said that the ecosystem of Chilka is already under severe strain and such operations will badly affect the lake and its environs. The bird sanctuaries at Nalabana and the neighbouring lakeside villages have seen a resurgence of migratory birds since the last few years, operating a seaplane will spell the doom for them.

Tripathy said that the Kerala government had mooted the idea of operating seaplanes in 22 places, and a detailed DPR had been prepared by Pawan Hans. Test flights had been undertaken and the places for the hydrodromes identified, but the project was shelved due to it being not feasible and the impact it would have on the ecosystem of the backwaters.

The Coastal Highway should not be made on the shores of the Chilka Lake. The stretch of the National Highway from Ganjam till Khurda should be incorporated as the Coastal Highway, Tripathy added.

Anil Dhir, the Project Coordinator of INTACH, said that worldwide, seaplanes are used only in places where road, air and ferry connectivity is difficult. The production and use of seaplanes worldwide is in decline with production levels at the lowest. Dhir, who is a former pilot, said that seaplanes are expensive to operate as they have a significant weight penalty. The floats itself cost 40% of the price of the airplane. They are slow and can carry only 8-10 passengers. Besides, the average flying time of 80% of the seaplanes all over the world is just 15-25 minutes.

The sea planes will have to be operated from Bhubaneswar or the Rangeligunda airport at Berhampur, with a flight time that would not be even 20 minutes. It will be illogical to operate flights to Chilka when one can reach Mangalajodi in 50 minutes by road. The travel time to Balugaon, Barkul, Rambha and Satapada too is around an hour and a half with excellent roads.

However, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had said that opposing the water aerodrome is against the interests of the state and its youths.