A new international airport at Mopa in North Goa is going to be developed on a public privet partnership (PPP) basis. The airport will start its operation by 2016. The Central government approved the project in June 2010. A New York based firm Ammann & Whitney was appointed as the technical consultant in April 2011. A small state like Goa has already an airport called Dabolim airport. The airport is maintained by the Indian Navy. According to the activists, no study has been conducted by the government whether a second airport is really needed in a tiny state like Goa. However, according to the Chief Minister of Goa, the increasing air passenger traffic, combined with military restrictions on timing and access to areas of present airport at Dabolim had forced both the central as well as the State Government to start another airport in north Goa. The plateau where the airport is proposed has 40 lakh cashew trees, thousands of fruit bearing trees and abundant water. Hence, Locals of Mopa are against the proposed Mopa airport, claiming that they would lose their homes, plantations and their livelihood. A group of affected farmers have formed the ‘Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Saghtana under the leadership of Sandeep Kambli, Hanumant Aroskar and Digambar Tulaskar to fight for their cause. Locals claim that the proposed Greenfield international airport in Mopa is nothing but a ploy by politicians cutting across political lines to push real estate business. Resolutions adopted by a large gathering at Lohia Maidan in Margao on May 15, 2013 against the Mopa airport had been forwarded to the Chief Minister with a request to immediately stop land acquisition proceess, and to announce Dabolim as the only civilian airport for the State. The total investment for the airport is $ 608,894,192.07 (Rs. 3800 Crore ) |
| Name of conflict: | Mopa International airport (North Goa), India |
| Country: | India |
| State or province: | Goa |
| Location of conflict: | Mopa |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Tourism facilities (ski resorts, hotels, marinas) Urban development conflicts Ports and airport projects Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines) Land acquisition conflicts |
| Specific commodities: | Land |
| Project details | Acquisition of over 23 lakh sq mts land required for the airport. |
| Project area: | 1,011 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 608,894,192 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 15000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 2010 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Ammann & Whitney |
| Relevant government actors: | Government of India, Civil Aviation Ministry, Indian Navy, Airport Authority of India, Indian National Congress party |
| International and Finance Institutions | International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Mopa Vimantal Peedit Xetkari Samiti’ (MVPXS), Mopa Airport-Affected Farmers Committee, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) |
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Street protest/marches Strikes |
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Institutional changes Court decision (victory for environmental justice) New legislation Strengthening of participation Under negotiation Application of existing regulations New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Farmers organised under ‘Mopa Vimantal Peedit Xetkari Samiti’ (MVPXS),from Pernem taluka are neither attracted to the compensation from the government towards their land nor interested in their rehabilitation. Pro-Mopa groups demand jobs in new Airport Project. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | Local farmers will not allow government to acquire their land for the proposed Mopa International Airport. Also, second Airport in the vicinity of already exiting airport (less than 80 KM) is not required. The second airport will increase north south divide among Goans. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other comments: | Mopa International Airport https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mopa-International-Airport/175869999097283 |
| Contributor: | Swapan Kumar Patra |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 948 |