I refer to the shocking news reports appearing in the Herald on the destruction of eco-sensitive villages for the Mopa Airport link road.
Let me repeat. The proposed Greenfield International airport at Mopa still remains only an “idea” to promote destruction of peaceful eco-sensitive villages and unique identity of Goa, through implementation of unsustainable mega industrial cities/townships projects, unwanted tourism and commercial projects and multi-modal transportation connectivity networks.
There are no proper feasibility studies to confirm the need for Mopa airport in Goa near the Goa-Maharashtra boundary to meet the air traffic requirements of the tiny State of Goa. Also, all the required project impact assessment studies have not been completed. Have any impact assessment studies been completed for the National Highways connectivity roads to Mopa Airport? Has the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study for the Mopa Airport project been completed? If so, what were the Terms of Reference for the study& who has approved the SIA report?
According to the Terms of Reference (refer page 44 of 138) highlighted in the financial consultancy tender document (December 2011), the selected financial consultant for Mopa airport was required to prepare the Project Information Memorandum. It is shocking that even after nearly three years, there was only a two-page Project Information Memorandum (refer Appendix VII/ page 111& page 112) in the Mopa Airport Request for Qualification (RFQ) document (October 3, 2014).
The Information Memorandum for the project is required to provide details on the project background and airport master plan, transportation connectivity and linkages, essential services and infrastructure upgrading plans, project structure, policy framework, project clearances &approvals and airport related pre-development works.
The road network of Goa shown in Appendix VII/ page 111 of the Mopa airport RFQ document is confusing. The existing Borim Bridge (presently being weakened by allowing overloaded trucks) has gone missing. Also, the above referred Information Memorandum for the Mopa international airport project is totally silent on the existing road and railway network upgrading plans to meet the passenger and cargo traffic requirements. The transportation linkages required for airport accessibility were kept hidden.
The preliminary project design reports, the draft project master plans for phase-wise airport development for cargo and passenger transportation, airport connectivity and business plans/revenue model for Mopa airport project considered for the tender process are hypothetical, based on unacceptable assumptions.
The massive Mopa Airport project to be developed in four phases is an exceptionally complex project. Therefore, there was a need for the applicants to submit their site-specific technical proposals/plans and the Project Authority should have specified the detailed phase –wise project requirements for the Design Build Finance Operate Transfer (DBFOT) contract under Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Mopa airport development. Since this did not happen, the DBFOT contract was suddenly changed to Build Operate Transfer(BOT ) contract.
The Special-Purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by the Mopa Airport BOT Contractor is not an independent institutional Authority to perform the role of Special Planning Authority. This Authority is required to consider various permissions and approvals required by the Mopa Airport BOT Contractor and sub-contractors for land development and project utilities/services in the massive acquired frozen land of Mopa Airport and the additional surrounding area in Goa and Maharashtra.
There are enough social and civic problems in Goa due to rapid urbanisation and unplanned industrialisation. The existing problems due to the urbanisation and industrialisation mess in Goa have not been resolved. Under such circumstances, can we allow unsustainable commercial development projects linked to multi-modal hub in peaceful villages for promoting the unviable Mopa Airport?
Many questions on Mopa Airport have remained unanswered.
