SC stops construction work of airport project at Mopa
Paul Fernandes | TNN | Jan 19, 2019, 05:59 IST
Picture used for representational purpose onlyPANAJI: In a setback to the Mopa international airport project, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Goa government and GMR (Goa International Airport Limited) (GGIAL) to maintain a status quo on the construction of the airport. The apex court issued the interim order while hearing arguments on admission of two appeals filed by Hanumant Aroskar and Federation of Rainbow Warriors challenging the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pune.
When the pleas came up for hearing at the admission stage, the petitioners pressed for maintaining status quo while GMR which had filed a caveat argued on the matter. Hearing them, the court directed that status quo be maintained on the project until further orders. In response to the contention of the GMR that it is a national project and that work is underway at a fast pace, the court said they can file a detailed reply on the project status.
The two petitioners had sought for a stay before the Supreme Court over the felling of 55,000 trees at Mopa, arguing that the environment impact assessment (EIA) report had only mentioned about the bushes on the airport site.
In August 2018, the NGT bench had rejected their applications challenging the grant of environmental clearance for the greenfield airport.
The state government and GGIAL officials had breathed in relief, stating that with the environmental clearance issue resolved, construction of the airport could commence at a faster pace.
The state government had recently expressed confidence about commissioning the airport by September 2020. Phase I of the airport project is expected to be completed soon, including the airport terminal building.
The proposed airport is being built in Pernem taluka in a total area of 2,271 acres.
The Federation of Rainbow Warriors had contended that the EIA study and report completely ignored the ‘study area’ falling in Maharashtra, and also how it included the protected Western Ghats.
When the pleas came up for hearing at the admission stage, the petitioners pressed for maintaining status quo while GMR which had filed a caveat argued on the matter. Hearing them, the court directed that status quo be maintained on the project until further orders. In response to the contention of the GMR that it is a national project and that work is underway at a fast pace, the court said they can file a detailed reply on the project status.
The two petitioners had sought for a stay before the Supreme Court over the felling of 55,000 trees at Mopa, arguing that the environment impact assessment (EIA) report had only mentioned about the bushes on the airport site.
In August 2018, the NGT bench had rejected their applications challenging the grant of environmental clearance for the greenfield airport.
The state government and GGIAL officials had breathed in relief, stating that with the environmental clearance issue resolved, construction of the airport could commence at a faster pace.
The state government had recently expressed confidence about commissioning the airport by September 2020. Phase I of the airport project is expected to be completed soon, including the airport terminal building.
The proposed airport is being built in Pernem taluka in a total area of 2,271 acres.
The Federation of Rainbow Warriors had contended that the EIA study and report completely ignored the ‘study area’ falling in Maharashtra, and also how it included the protected Western Ghats.
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