########################################################################## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ##########################################################################
I tried to find the original posting on this subject but couldnt find one in Nov or Dec. Anyway, it is good news that a serious look at the Dabolim issue is being taken by the Defence Ministry. Let's hope it is not just an excuse for a holiday jaunt to Goa! A few questions about the Committee that arise are: 1) What is its locus standi? 2) What are its TOR? 3)Who are the members and which of them are visiting Goa? 4) Who do they plan to meet in Goa? There was a recent report in the press titled "Govt plans to set up aeronautics panel" in the NEXT FEW WEEKS to promote the synergy between defence and civil aviation establishments while maintaining their separate identities. This commission will be reportedly headed at the ministerial level and will have secretaries from the civil aviation and defence ministries, heads of aeronautics, representatives of the aviation industry, DGCA and licensing authority and representatives of various bodies from the Indian aviation (both civilian and defence) sector. The main aim from the report seems to be to tap the lucrative $51 billion INDIAN travel market expected to emerge by 2011. Manufacturing and technology acquisition activities have been highlighted as driving the move but expansion of tourism at low air travel cost which Goa would be interested in should also logically be very much part of the agenda. Let us hope that Goanetters will be closely upated about developments re the Committee's visit by those in the know since there has been a keen debate on the Dabolim issue in this forum over the past few months. Regrettably there has been no update about Churchill Alemao's activities in a Defence Committee though the press carried a brief report about his visit to Delhi in this very connection. Let us hope that Goanetters are not asleep on this matter as strongly suspected by some quarters!:)
