VASCO: Slamming the BJP government for going ahead with the Mopa airport even after the matter is sub judice, Goenchea Ramponkaranchea Ekvott (GRE) has demanded that the proposed site be relocated to Maharashtra or to some other neighbouring state immediately as it will destroy the environment and culture of Goa and benefit the real estate lobby.
GRE joint general secretary Olencio Simoes said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who laid foundation stone for Mopa Greenfield Airport, has “backstabbed” late Matanhy Saldanha’s legacy, which the BJP promised to fulfil in 2012 when Saldanha joined BJP.
“The proposed Mopa site is “anti-environment” and “anti-Goan” as this airport will benefit only the state of Maharashtra at the cost of Goa’s environment and its resources. This government has gone all out in “bypassing” laws of the land in its developmental works for the last five years, be it Mopa Airport, dredging of rivers etc”, he alleged.
He further said, “Mopa airport is not feasible as it is situated in the lateritic surface of the plateau, which is extremely rich in bauxite, giving it a porous and spongy nature, creating aquifers, which feed over 40 perennial springs emanating from the contact between the lateritic surface and the basalt below. The ore-rich lateritic surface is an unmatched source of pure drinking water, which no dam can compare with, both in terms of quality and quantity of drinking water stored”.
“Also the plateau exhibits the highest levels of endemism and presence of rare and endangered species among all the ecosystems of the Western Ghats. The number of rich floral species found is above 800 and also the faunal species like mammals found on the plateau include tiger, leopard, bison, four species of deer, pangolin, giant squirrel, leopard cat, jungle cat, hyena, wild dog, slender loris, palm and common civets, otters, wild boars, mongoose, porcupine, jackal, hare, palm squirrel, bats, mice, rats and bird species which are nearly 250 and the project site also has 5,558 horticulture trees,” he informed.
