PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party today condemned the charge of corruption by Rohan Khaunte on CM Dr. Pramod Sawant on the issue of Mopa International Airport.
Director of Civil Aviation is the Member Secretary of MADA (Mopa Airport Development Authority) as per the MADA Act 5th September 2018. This Act was approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 27-07-2018. Dismissed Ex-Minister Rohan Khaunte was a part of this Cabinet meeting decision.
“If he had any issues or suggestions in regards of appointment of Director of Civil Aviation as Member Secretary, he could have raised his objections then. Why was he a silent spectator?.” said Rupesh Kamat
Charges by Rohan Khaunte that rules are not framed of MADA Act is totally false and baseless. Rules were framed and approved in the Cabinet meeting held on 20th December 2018 and notified in the Gazette on 3rd January 2019. Again, dismissed ex-Minister Rohan Khaunte was a part of the said Cabinet meeting and did not raised any objections or suggestions.
Misguiding Goans by leving false charges of corruption on CM in the name of construction license. The construction of Mopa Airport is being done on Govt. land on PPP basis. GMR has already spent approx. 450 crores on this Govt. land i.e. earthwork, construction of ATC tower, terminal building, etc.
“I can assure you that no close aid of CM Dr. Pramod Sawant has got any of this contracts or sub-contracts. However, we question which Javed, Shakil etc. are beneficiaries of this contracts directly or indirectly and which politician from Bardez has direct links with them.” he said
Meanwhile, GMR has given a bank guarantee of 62 crores, therefore he cannot be compared to any other construction activity which comes under the ambit of TCP, PDA or Panchayats. There are disputes raised by GMR on the rate of construction license fees which is pending before MADA. Also, an undertaking is given by GMR to MADA to abide by the ruling with regards to the payment of construction license fees. The construction license has been granted to avoid any further delay to the most prestigious and important project for the State of Goa.
