Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday announced the environmental clearance for the Navi Mumbai airport in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mr. Ramesh said, all concerns of the environment ministry have been met. He said before the project, the present site has 161 hectares of mangroves. The minister said the civil aviation ministry has agreed to a proposal that 671 hectares of mangroves would be developed in the site area. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said, the construction of the airport would be carried in four phases. Mr. Chavan said after its completion it would give direct employment to over a lakh people.