New Delhi: In a decision that is seen as a major setback to the Mopa International Airport project and an initial victory to the NGOs in Goa fighting the project, the Supreme Court has ordered the government of Goa and GMR to stop work and maintain a status quo on the construction of the airport.
SC ordered the interim order on hearing the petition filed by two petitioners Hanumant Aroskar and Federation of Rainbow Warriors challenging the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The petitioners approached India’s Apex Court over the felling of over 55,000 trees, after the NGT rejected their petition challenging the grant of the Environmental Clearance (EC) for the Greenfield airport.
In their petition, the Federation of Rainbow Warriors contented that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report did not take into consideration the environmental impact on the protected Western Ghats of which there has been an extensive study.
