Panaji: A provision has been made for a naval air enclave spread over five acres at the upcoming Mopa International Airport in North Goa, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the assembly on Monday.

“There is a provision of naval air enclave for which five-acre land is proposed on lease for the entire period of concession,” Parsekar said in written reply to a question by Congress legislator Vishwajit Rane.

The upcoming Mopa International Airport, according to the state government, is aimed at easing the congestion at the Dabolim International Airport located in South Goa, 40 km from Panaji.

The Dabolim airport is the only airport in the state and is operated by the Indian Navy, which had taken over the facility from the Portuguese military in 1961 soon after the Indian armed forces liberated the former colony.