Airport runway resurfacing permitted with environmental and security safeguards for temporary hotmix plant operations.

Permission was granted to install and operate hotmix plants near IGI Airport for urgent runway resurfacing, which was treated as necessary to keep a functioning international airport operational. The environmental concerns were balanced against the operational need, and approval was made conditional on modern plant technology, limited duration of use, and supervision by the Central Pollution Control Board. Further safeguards were required on plant location, emissions, transportation, and security to reduce pollution and airport-security risks. The resurfacing work was therefore allowed to proceed subject to controlled environmental and security conditions.

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Issues: Whether the Airports Authority of India should be permitted to install and operate hotmix plants in the vicinity of IGI Airport for runway resurfacing, subject to environmental and security safeguards.

Analysis: The requirement was for urgent resurfacing of worn and cracked runways at a functioning international airport, and the work was treated as one of national importance. The Court balanced the environmental concerns associated with hotmix plants against the operational necessity of keeping the airport functional. It accepted the applicant's assurance that the plants would be of modern technology, would operate only for the limited period needed, and would be subjected to supervision by the Central Pollution Control Board. The Court also required safeguards on location, emissions, transportation, and security, so that pollution risk and airport-security risk would be minimized.

Conclusion: Permission to install and operate the hotmix plants was granted, subject to the specified safeguards and monitoring conditions.

Final Conclusion: The application was allowed and the airport resurfacing work was permitted to proceed with controlled environmental and security conditions.

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