Daijiworld Media Network 

Panaji, Jul 15: Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant told the state Assembly that the proposed Mopa greenfield airport in North district of the State will be commissioned in the year 2021.

The state government had earlier announced that the airport would be commissioned in the year 2020.

While responding to a question tabled by Congress MLA Pratapsinh Rane, the chief minister said, “Due to the status quo order by the Supreme Court for the construction of Mopa Airport is getting delayed and expected to be commissioned in the year 2021.”

In January, this year, the Supreme Court had suspended the environment clearance granted to the proposed airport project, which had started its construction work.

The SC had asked Expert Appraisal committee to revisit the decision in the light of the impact of this project on environment.

The Greenfield airport at Mopa village of North Goa is being constructed by GMR Infrastructure.

Sawant also told the House that 14.28 per cent of the physical work on the airport project has been completed. He said that the prior to the stoppage of work on the project as per Supreme Court order, dated January 19, 2019, more than 1,000 people were working at the site and majority of them were locals.