Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa has condemned corruption charges levelled by Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the issue of Mopa International Airport.
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Khaunte had recent made allegations against the government for engaging in illegalities in the project while also stating the land acquisition and tree cutting have been done illegally.
Addressing a press conference at party head quarters on Saturday, Rupesh Kamat – State Executive Member while denying allegations explained that Mopa Airport Development Authority (MADA) Act was approved in the cabinet meeting held on July 27, 2018 and that Director of Civil Aviation is the Member Secretary of MADA.
He reminded Khaunte that the latter was a part of this Cabinet meeting decision as the then minister.
To another allegation that rules of MADA Act are not framed, the party dismissed it as totally false and baseless.
“Rules were framed and approved in the Cabinet meeting held on December 20, 2018 and notified in the Gazette on January 3, 2019. Khaunte was a part of the said Cabinet meeting and did not raise any objections or suggestions,” Kamat said.
Party spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik, also present at the briefing said the Independent MLA was misguiding Goans through false charges of corruption on CM in the name of construction licence.
“The construction of Mopa Airport is being done on government land on PPP basis. GMR has already spent approx Rs 450 crore on this land, that is, earthwork, construction of ATC tower, terminal building, etc. I can assure you that no close aid of CM Sawant has got any of these contracts or sub-contracts. However, we question which Javed, Shakil etc. are beneficiaries of these contracts directly or indirectly and which politician from Bardez has direct links with them,” he stated.
Naik added that GMR has given a bank guarantee of Rs 62 crore and there are disputes raised by GMR on the rate of construction licence fees which is pending before MADA. Also, an undertaking is given by GMR to MADA to abide by the ruling with regards to the payment of construction license fees.
The construction licence has been granted to avoid any further delay to the most prestigious and important project for the State, he said.
