Kovai airport relocates trees for expansion

Recently the airport was allotted funds to the tune of a few crore rupees for carrying out the facelift and expansion works for the existing building. “As part of the project a few huge canopies had to be planted in place of the existing smaller canopies, for which we had to cut eight fully grown neem trees” he said. 

Since there are no trees in a major share of the airport as the operational area should be free of tall structures or trees (as birds nesting on trees pose a threat to flights) airport officials decided to get help from a local NGO to study the feasibility of relocating these trees. A month ago, the NGO told AAI officials that the trees would survive if they were relocated. 

Meanwhile, pits were dug on the piece of vacant land at the AAI residential area, a few hundred metres away from the terminal building for relocating the trees. The main bark and branches of the trees were spared and the rest were pruned. On Monday evening the first two trees were relocated. “Including labour and other expenses it will cost around Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000 for relocating each tree. This is nothing as compared to time taken and effort needed to raise saplings for 15 to 20 years,” airport director said.

With the land acquisition for more than 600 acres underway for the airport expansion, Prakash Reddy said they are planning to spare fully grown trees that need not be axed if buildings are not going to come in their place immediately.