Philip,
I agree with you in in some of what you are saying and have been proposing all this while. However on the issue of "greenfield airports", its the 'location, location, location' that matters most, anyway!
Pune as a big metropolis cannot have the same problems for the residents of Pune, as would be for the residents of South Goa and tourism related livleyhood in Goa! Pune has much more resources and a better infrastructure all round already! It does not matter for them if the "greenfield airport" is at one end of the metropolis. But in Goa it makes a big difference! If such an airport were to be proposed say in Canacona or Polem etc, just imagine the hue and cry coming from the northern coastal belt; and the investors and other stake holders in Panjim and North Goa!!!
That is why I say that the Civilian Airport should remain at the present spot in central Goa. And if at all, inspite of all efforts; if there has to be a "greenfield airport" then let it be on Bambolim Plateau or somewhere in Ponda! Why the hell in Mopa, at one extreme end of Goa. I demand answers; as it is, the Legislative Assembly Complex and the Secretariat are placed in Porvorim; These should have been on Dona Paula Hill or on Bambolim Plateau! Two wrongs do not make a right! There has to be a big change in planning thought and idea!
Then there is the other fact to reckon with: Dabolim never was established as a naval airport! neither did Portuguese Goa or Indian Navy have an air wing or air capability at the time, the Goa airport was commissioned. Do you know that the first airstrip was located on the hill facing the harbour westerley? This second airfield at Dabolim was later developed to have safe and comfortable landings and take offs for civilian flights between Goa and Karachi!
Dabolim must remain as the only civilian airport in Goa. Churchill Alemao and Eduard Faleiro please take note and work harder to keep Dabolim! And the present day State Govt. too, better act to govern for all, and not only the 'Northern Goa'.
Cheers! Nasci Caldeira Melbourne, Down Under.
From: "Philip Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Subject: [Goanet]Re: Making Common Cause with Pune Airport UsersDate: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:35:20 +0530
<The people of goa must join forces and give all out support to the efforts
of Churchill Alemao and suplement his efforts too in as many ways as
possible. The Navy has and always had the option of Sea bird/ Karwar and now
of Mopa. Its not far for an aeroplane, but definitely too far for people in
South Goa!
If Dabolim stops funtioning as a civilian airport and Mopa is taken up, then
the people of South Goa might as well migrate to Mangalore, as that is far
alike! The whole tourist economy of South Goa will be totally destroyed, and
the life for the common man totally miserable. This has been the plan of the
BJP wallahs all along to try and punish South Goa 'cause they will not vote
for their communal agenda! Please keep fighting for Dabolim alone as the
civilian airport in Goa. Its makes sense, stratergic and economic.> [Nasci
Caldeira, Feb 15]
The issue needs calm and quiet thinking all around and timely, concerted and
energetic action. Let's face it, the sky is not about to fall this year or
even five years down the line. But the scene may well be different in a
decade. If it is to be what the people of Goa want it to be then they have
the responsibility to keep thinking about it and update themselves as new
information becomes available and not stick lazily to sentimental positions
established a long time ago.
It has to be accepted that according to the prevailing line of thinking in India, whenever there is a military constraint on an old airport or if private investors want to make a fast buck then the answer seems to be "go for a greenfield airport". So Mopa is on the cards. Its just a matter of time.
The problem is joint civilian/military control of airports on the lines of
Hawaii's international airport and air force base. Only recently the Air
Chief made encouragng noises in Pune about the military appreciating the
need to share airport assets. But then we found that lo and behold Pune
itself is slated for a greenfield airport! So it is not going to be easy for
Goa to swim against the tide of airport project thinking. But it must.
