A new international airport at Mopa in North Goa is going to be developed. Locals of Mopa are against the proposed project, claiming that they would lose their homes, plantations and their livelihood.
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. |
| 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: | Urban development conflicts Tourism facilities (ski resorts, hotels, marinas) 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 |