Greenfield airport in Goa gets SC nod

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday gave the nod for construction of greenfield Mopa airport in North Goa, being developed by GMR, and asked the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to oversee the project to ensure that there is no environmental damage or danger to flora and fauna of the area.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta also directed the concessionaire of the project to adopt a zero carbon programme in construction and operational phases of the airport.It said conditions imposed by the Centre’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and National Green Tribunal are sufficient to protect environment and approved the project. The court last year found fault in the environment clearance given to the project and directed EAC to re-examine it.
After examining all aspects of the project , EAC cleared it but imposed additional conditions to protect environment.