The various allegations made by Mr. Rohan Khaunte,MLA, Porvorim regarding Mopa Airport Development Authority are incorrect and misleading.
The allegation of revenue loss to the government as Mopa Airport Development Authority (MADA) has issued construction license without taking license fee is incorrect as the representation of GMR on construction license fee charged is pending before MADA for a decision.
It is further informed that GMR is bound by the decisions to be taken by MADA on its representation on construction license fee and GMR has given an undertaking to that effect to MADA. GMR has already spent hundreds of crores of rupees on the project and Government has a bank guarantee of Rs.62 crore from GMR. The allegation that Director Civil Aviation/Member Secretary MADA being the nominee Director on the Board, himself has submitted the representation for revision of construction license fee is totally baseless.
The representation submitted by GMR is a management decision of GMR and has not yet come before the Mopa Airport Development Authority.
Construction of Mopa Airport is a project of national importance and first of its kind in Goa of that magnitude. Ease of doing business is an essential requirement to altract investors to Goa for the specialized projects like an Airport. Creation of Mopa Airport Development Authority through a State Act is essentially for ease of doing business and provides single window mechanism to give various approvals as required for development of the Airport.
Under the MADA Act the Authority is empowered to exercise all the powers under State Acts, which are otherwise vested in the Competent Authority under the relevant law or rules, regulation, bye laws, notifications issued thereunder so as to give clearances for development of the Mopa Greenfield Intermational Airport.
The MADA Act provides a Chairman to be nominated by the Government, five Secretary level officers and six HOD level officers, whose experience in variety of subjects facilitates MADA in taking decision. Also, Director Civil Aviation is on the Board of GMR as nominee Director to protect the interest of the Government in
official capacity under Article 5.4.2 of Concession Agreement. Government nominee Director is also the Chairman of Audit Committee of the Board of
GMR. While MADA is following State Acts and Rules made there under, it has notified its o w n rules o n 27 December 2018. MADA being a new concept evolving with time and amendment to rules as may be required from time to time.
