1. <The Save Dabolim Action Committee will finally kick-start it's agitation to retain Dabolim as Goa's lone international airport, beginning with a public meeting at Vasco on March 2, with Churchill Alemao calling upon the government to declare its stand whether it favours Dabolim or Mopa before the Assembly polls. Convenor of the Action Committee, MP Churchill Alemao further said he do not care for the Congress directives for party leaders not to go public on the issue, saying he is espousing the cause of the people of Goa.>
This is clearly a "miss". There doesnt seem to be any chance whatsoever of the Rane govt issuing a white paper on Mopa. It is probably banking on the PM to give his green signal so as to treat the project as a "fait accompli". Churchill's timing may be a bit off. This should have been called for 6 months ago. 2.<Welcoming the stand of Maharashtra government to set up an airport in Sindhdurg district, Alemao and Radharao Gracias said "an airport at Sindhudurg will solve the present imbroglio and will serve Pernem as well".> Another clear "miss". Maharashtra is zeroing in on a second Mumbai airport at Navi Mumbai. So this idea of Churchill's is gratuitous. Besides, if push comes to shove, southern Maharashtra may decide it can get by with the planned Rs 15 crore (only!) upgrade of the airport in Belgaum, Karnataka. Belgaum's surface transport links to Mahrashtra may be OK or can be upgraded for this purpose. So Mopa can be dispensable one way or the other. But this raises a pertinent question which I have posed at the end. 3.<The MP charged that the Navy is occupying vast area at Dabolim, *part of which is being utilised for a golf course, playground and for leisure. "Have the Navy come to enjoy here or for defence purposes",* he said, while reiterating his demand for shifting of the Naval base to Karwar and utilising the land for airport expansion.> This is a real "hit", if it is true! Due to a lack of sufficient focus on Dabolim in the media we get to hear this kind of thing very late in the day! Surely it has been going on for a long time and is not an overnight development! 4.Question: OK let's suppose that the PM gives Mopa the thumbs down. Will the Churchill story end there? Will this be enough for Churchill or will he ask for more just like Oliver Twist? For example what will he have to say about any upgradation of road transport between North and South Goa. Will he say "no" to that too? Only time will tell, na? Cheers.
