http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=02267
Churchill wants assurance from govt on Dabolim expansion NT News Service Margao, Feb 25: Seeking an assurance from the state government that the Dabolim airport would be expanded and retained, the South Goa Congress MP, Mr Churchill Alemao said that if the Congress party intended to rule the state then it would have to scrap the Mopa airport proposal. Significantly Mr Churchill came out with this observation within a couple of days of the Congress chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi advice to state leaders to maintain restrain. Mr Churchill was emphatic that this issue need to be solved before the next assembly elections lest the airport controversy snowball into an issue if not sorted out before the next general elections. He also said that the government has to think of upgrading Dabolim or else, the government would lose its grip on Goa. Announcing his plans of going to the people by holding public meetings across the state, Mr Alemao told reporters that starting from March 2 at Vasco, meetings would be held on March 7 at Navelim and then on March 9 at Curtorim. Mr Alemao along with Mr Radharao Gracias stated that the MLA,s of respective constituencies should treat the meetings as an open call and use it as a platform to state their stands on the issue. The duo also charged the navy of using INS Hansa for other purposes other than defence. �They have a golf course and a huge football ground. Both these spaces can be utilised for the expansion of Dabolim airport,� Mr Alemao said. Mr Gracias welcomed the statement of the Maharashtra government, which said that the state was ready to build its own airport at Sindhudurg, saying, �this would solve the problem once and for all. Ms Sonia Gandhi should intervene and solve the problem.� The MP suggested that since the Rane government was adamant, it should get expert advice on the feasibility of Mopa. �Look at the Roman Konkani script and the Devanagri script issue. Today people want the Roman script. The same will happen with the airport issue, but it will be too late when people will prefer Dabolim,�he remarked. The MP reiterated that the erstwhile BJP-led government of Goa was dislodged mainly to ensure that the Congress would do something for the betterment of the Goan people, who stand to be adversely affected by the proposed Mopa airport. �If Mopa becomes a reality then the Goan tourism industry will collapse and the only beneficiary will be Maharashtra,� he said adding that Goans should understand these factors and should support Dabolim to become an international airport and not a Mopa. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England
