Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai today has slammed the state government for losing large revenue to the State through concession agreement to GMR for Manohar International Airport.
Vijai raised the issue stating thet Goa government lost Rs 207 crore revenue through concession agreement to GMR for Manohar International Airport.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reiterated that revenue share will be payable from December 7.
Sawant also committed to asking GGIAL to develop a ‘green belt’ at Mopa, after opposition legislator Vijai Sardesai pointed out the agency’s failure to fulfill this condition during MIA airport construction.
Sardesai also threatens to write letter to the Court, if Manohar International Airport Management (GMR) fails to adhere to the requirement of Green Belt as envisaged in the agreement signed by them with the state government.
“Revenue Holiday by Govt of Goa has caused Rs 207 Cr loss to state exchequer and entire Cabinet is responsible for this. Probably you are the first CM in the country to cause this type of loss to state exchequer,” said Vijai.
Sardesai pointed out that the government was supposed to collect revenue amounting to 37% from GMR Mopa Airport every month, which approximates to ₹18 crores. He expressed shock that the government has decided to forgo this revenue until December 2024.
Sardesai strongly condemned the extension of GMR’s revenue holiday period, labeling it as “anti-Goan” and vowing to challenge the decision. He emphasized that the government had previously assured that revenue sharing with GMR Mopa would commence in May 2024.
However, there are now moves at the cabinet level to extend this period until December 2024, which Sardesai argues is not only a violation of the Concession Agreement but also a significant financial setback for the state.
“I have also learned that a cabinet note is being prepared to extend the revenue holiday, not by the Department of Civil Aviation but by a third party,” Sardesai revealed. He warned that such actions could result in massive losses to the exchequer and constitute a breach of the House’s privilege.
Sawant also said that the aeronautical tariffs are determined by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).
The details of the various fees/tariffs levied at Manohar International Airport is as contained in the AERA’s Order no. 27/2023-24 dated 07/12/2023 for Manohar International Airport, Mopa Goa for the control period 1 st April 2023 to 31st March 2028,” he added.
