On the eve of his 50th birthday, ex-CM Manohar Parrikar seems to be gaining in gyan. According to HERALD (Dec 13) he has reportedly suggested that "in order to ensure [continued] operation of Dabolim ...Mopa airport could be handed over [to private investors] with a conditional clause that Dabolim would not be closed down".
I have been crying hoarse that this is what the country's civil aviation policy should ensure at greenfield airports such as Mopa which are aimed at relieving the huge constraints at civil enclaves like Dabolim. How the government will make such a sharp U-turn to undo a big policy mistake is the million dollar question. That is not the end. The next thing that people like Parrikar must realise is that the "cause" of the old rule (to shut down thriving civil enclaves) is the over-design of the greenfield airports ostensibly to make them ultra-modern. Hence in Mopa's case, the Rs 1000 crore plan for a category 6, A380 airport has to be down sized (or rather right sized) to something much more economical (but still up-to-date in functional terms). Then the pressure to shut Dabolm should reduce automatically. Who will push for this? Simultaneously however, Dabolim has to be scaled up AND modernised instead of just milking a completely written-down, old investment. For this the airport has to revert to civilian hands as the military has all its hang-ups and and complexes. Besides, it should rightly focus on military issues instead of being constantly distracted by civilian pressures. (Purely military issues in Goa are, however, non-existent as far as I can tell!) While all this is being done, the Goa government has to plan for the development of the state as a progressive 21st century environment balancing the delicate needs of both economy and ecology. This is a monumental task but its starting point may have to be the departure of the Navy from Dabolim. Does Parrikar and his ilk have the "vision" to realise this? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
