<br/>A Central panel has given its nod to an ambitious airport project in Itanagar in Arunanchal Pradesh, the first greenfield airport in the Northeast state. Official sources said, the Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee for Building Construction Projects gave its approval to the project last month with suggestions to build necessary cross drainage at the site. <br/><br/> The proposed airport is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 696.66 crore and has already got clearance from the Environment Ministry. Nearly 250 hectares of reserved forestland will be cleared for the airport for construction of runway, terminal building and a small township at the site, they said.<br/> The proposal, announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year under a special package, has got the backing of the local people during a public hearing organised by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).<br/>