http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=013127
Centre forms panel on Mopa airport NT Staff Reporter Panaji Jan 30: The civil aviation ministry has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane to advise it on contentious issues related to the controversial proposed Mopa international airport. One crucial issue that the committee will go into is the "necessity of either continuing or closing the Dabolim airport". The order was issued on January 27 by Mr B K Dhal, under secretary (civil aviation ministry, government of India) and was circulated to the media this evening. Besides Mr Rane, the committee will consists of the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Shantaram Naik, Lok Sabha MPs, Mr Churchill Alemao and Mr Shripad Naik and the Goa Chief Secretary, Mr P S Singh. The civil aviation joint secretary will be the convenor of the committee, which has been given three months time to submit its report to the ministry. The committee has also been empowered to co-opt or invite any other person or organisation as deemed fit, according to the order. The panel will be serviced by the Airports Authority of India. The order states that the decision to set up the committee was taken in view of divergent views expressed by local representatives and the people of Goa on setting up of new airport at Mopa. The proposed Mopa airport has virtually divided Goa's political spectrum including the ruling Congress. Mr Alemao was the first to take a stand against the proposed airport, alleging that the airport would benefit Maharashtra and kill tourism industry in South Goa. The South Goa MP's public posturing on the Mopa airport triggered a rear-guard action by leaders of his own Congress party from North Goa, led by former Union minister, Mr Ramakant Khalap exposing cracks in the ruling party on the issue. With these stalwarts of the ruling party publicly voicing divergent stands on the issue, causing embarrassment to his government, the Chief Minister sought to buy time and pushed the land acquisition process for the airport on the backburner by allowing it to lapse last week. Unable to get a consensus among his party leaders and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party waiting in the wings to appropriate political mileage on the issue, Mr Rane knocked the doors of central leadership and placed the controversial issue before the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The decision to set up the committee under Mr Rane's chairmanship is the result of the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office. Meanwhile, residents of Pernem taluka have established the Mopa Vimaantal Nirdhaar Samiti and organised a massive public meeting in Pernem town yesterday, resolving to continue their struggle till the Mopa airport is commissioned. -- Salaam ali kum. Gabe Menezes. London, England
