Hi all,
I believe from past news reports, that there is a commitment for an airfield
at or close to Sea Bird. There was also some news that, the Navy is wanting
to acquire more land near Sea Bird for expansion in Southern most Goa,
presumably for the airfield??
With reference to what Edward Verdes, wherein he talks of the Cavelossim
area: The naval presence here is neither a base nor an airfield; in the
sense that aircraft neither land or take off from here! It is quite a large
enclosure with two high towers, rising ugly above the tree top level! It's
fenced off for 'safety' reasons only, and served by a road from the main
Cavelossim-Margao road. The areas was acquired for the Naval Air to practice
straffing and also air /sea rescue missions. Most the year this place is
very quiet, as far as any real activity is concerned.
Nowadays, they just fly over once in a while, as if to maintain a claim on
the place, only to irritate local people, since this area is in close
proximity to a dense residential area. Their aircraft takes off and lands
back in Dabolim, whilst they fly these sorties, over this 'virgin beach' and
prime tourism land! This area is part of the 35 kms of the longest unbroken
beach in Goa' in South Goa!
Contamination of the soil where they have been straffing using dummy shells,
is high; no amount of complaints can move or hurt the mighty Navy. Is this
military rule or is the state govt. so lame and without any teeth? Or is it
that the Govt. being based in Panjim (and or now on Porvorim Plateau) is
least bothered about what happens to their citizens in South Goa. Is this
right and tolerable? No.
What are the local Gaunkars and politicians doing about this? Well the
answer is that when this area was requisitioned by the Navy, in the 70s the
local Gaunkars and Communidade made lots of money over it, and became very
rich overnight! Their mouths are effectively sealed? Looks like. Three Bank
branches came to Cavelossim! Thats Goa politics for you.
Does Goa have any hope for an orderly future and good infrastructure? Yes.
But not without a fight and concerted campaigning.
Nasci Caldeira
Melbourne.
From: "Philip Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet]RE: DIFFERENT STROKES
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:53:58 +0530
For them the best option is to sit tight, right royally, at Dabolim. There
are no concrete plans to have an airstation at Seabird Karwar. [Where does
Goa come into the Seabird picture, anyway?]
