-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times (20-11-05)
Leaders fooling Goans on Dabolim Airport Why are you opposed to Mopa airport project? I am opposing Mopa airport project keeping the future of Goa, its people and economy in mind. My opposition to the project is not for my political survival as I am not surviving on politics. I have other avenues to meet my daily needs and that of my family. I am in politics for giving a bright future for Goans and I have been fighting for their rights since I entered politics way back in 1989. I am sure that Mopa airport will not benefit Goa and Goans at large. What are your fears about Mopa airport? I am sure that once Mopa airport is commissioned, the Dabolim airport would be closed for civilian traffic and it would permanently become a naval airport. This would harm the booming tourism industry and also cause inconvenience to the people of the state. But Dabolim airport has been a naval airport for long and cannot be classified as an international airport. Isnt it? No. Dabolim has been a civilian airport all throughout till the navy was handed over its charge for maintenance after liberation and they have been running the show since then. I have authentic information that Dabolim was named as the thirteenth international airport in the country and it should be upgraded to meet international requirements. How can you say that Dabolim is a civilian international airport when all documents prove that it is a naval airport? I have learnt that when Mr G C Shrivastava was the Chief Secretary of the state, he gave a noting to the Centre stating that Dabolim was a naval airport. This I believe is contrary to the facts. However, I have a copy of the gazette issued during Portuguese rule stating that Dabolim was a civilian airport and not as stated by the then chief secretary. The Goan members of Parliament and others concerned did little to impress the central authorities about the facts about Dabolim airport. But Dabolim is to remain as second airport in the state? This is a lie that is being told to the people of the state. Let me tell you that the same assurance was given to the people of Cochin (Kochi) when a second airport under public-private partnership was sought to be built. However, when the new airport came up the old one was discontinued and I am sure that after Mopa airport becomes operational the same thing would happen to Dabolim airport, which would become a naval airport permanently. Dont you think that Mopa International Airport would help Goa and boost its economy? Who says that Dabolim is not an international airport and why do we need two international airports? I want to reiterate that Dabolim is the thirteenth international airport and is a civilian airport. I have enough proof to substantiate my claim. I challenge any one to prove me wrong. Moreover, Dabolim can be upgraded and for this the Navy has to vacate it so that another runway (a parallel one) is built and other facilities required for an international airport can be built. Mopa in my opinion will not be of much help to Goa. Why should Navy vacate Dabolim? When the Sea Bird project was initiated the then government of Goa, headed by Mr Ravi Naik, handed over the entire island of Anjediva, without taking a single pie from the Defence Ministry or the Central Government. The Navy has enough land at its Sea Bird project where they can build an airport to meet their requirements. To force navy to quit Dabolim, it is necessary for all Goans to come together and force the state as well as central government to urge the naval authorities to shift their airbase to Karwar. If government forces the Navy then only it will shift the base to Karwar and we will have the best international airport in Goa. But naval authorities claim that Dabolim is a strategic location and that it would be foolhardy to shift to Karwar? No, that is just an excuse for the Navy to stay put in Goa. According to me the best location for Navy is Karwar. It has been a tradition now that any one who comes to Goa wants to remain here and does not want to leave it. Have you brought the issue to the notice of the Central government, now that you are a Member of Parliament? I have already brought the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the All India Congress Committee president, Ms Sonia Gandhi. They have assured to look into the matter after studying the viability report. Are you going to use your position as a Member of Parliament to see that work on Mopa airport was stopped? I will not oppose Mopa airport if it is made a domestic airport. I consider Mopa will be an asset for the people of Sindhudurga and Konkan region of Maharashtra and not for Goa. Why should we create facilities for the people from the other state, since Mopa is on the border of Goa and the only people taxi operators, etc to benefit from it would be those from Maharashtra. All the revenue that Goa gets from tourism will go to Maharashtra if the airport comes at Mopa. Why do you say that Goas economy will be affected? Let me tell you one example of the economic progress made in South Goa. The entire South Goa coast is booming with tourism industry with a large number of hotels coming up there. Every week nearly 40 people come to me seeking employment in hotel industry and I help them. These people have used this opportunity as a platform for economic growth and to make progress and come up in life. If Mopa airport comes up then the hotel industry in South Goa would be badly affected which will also have a bearing on the people working in hotels. Besides, nearly 40,000 taxi operators and others dependent on tourism industry would also be affected if the international airport is shifted to Mopa. Government says movement of traffic will not be a problem. What have you to say on this? Whatever be done, I am sure that Goa will be affected in a big way if international airport is built at Mopa. Besides, the states economy will be affected and a large number of people will be rendered unemployed. So you mean to say that Mopa airport should not be built? I dont mind if they build a domestic airport in Mopa, but not an international airport. There is not a single state which has two international airports and as such there cannot be two international airports Dabolim and Mopa in the state of Goa. Those saying that both the airports would remain operational are just fooling the people of Goa. I am waiting for response from my party president and the Prime Minister. I will take appropriate action after the response from my leaders and expose all those who have misled Goans for a decade now and those who have shifted the venue of new international airport to Mopa. If an assurance is given to you by your leaders that Dabolim airport would remain operational, will you go on opposing Mopa airport? All those people who have been saying that both airports can remain operational are only fooling Goans. I have records which state that Dabolim airport would be handed over to Navy after Mopa comes up.
