Panaji, Jan 30 (IANS): The upcoming Mopa Greenfield International Airport Project in North Goa, undertaken by the GMR group, could be delayed due to a Supreme Court interim order this month which stayed cutting of trees at the site, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Goa Assembly on Wednesday.

Responding to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rajesh Patnekar, Parrikar said in a written reply: "As per concession agreement, the Phase I of the airport is to be commissioned by September 2020. However, there could be a delay in the commissioning of Phase I due to stay on tree cutting earlier and status quo ordered by the Supreme Court vide order dated January 18."

Hearing two petitions from Goa-based activists, who alleged that trees were being illegally felled, the apex court in an interim order directed the Goa government and GMR to maintain a status quo on the construction of the airport.

Parrikar also said: "The airport would be conducted in four phases with a potential of handling 30 million passenger per annum."