PRESS NOTE FROM GFDO
GOANS FOR DABOLIM ONLY said that Chief Minister Parrikar needs to explain to
Goans why he is so determined to hand over the entire tourism industry of
Goa to Maharashtra by going ahead with the setting up of the private airport
at Mopa. All Goans are well aware that the centrally located Dabolim Airport
has benefitted North Goa tourist spots immensely. The famous hotspots of
Goan tourism like Candolim, Calangute, Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim, Mandrem,
Arambol etc. are all located in North Goa and have been benefitted and well
served by Dabolim Airport over the decades. But all that will change once
Mopa Airport becomes a reality to serve as the international airport for the
virgin beaches of Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, since Chipi is only a domestic
airport. The commissioning of Mopa Airport will deal a death blow to both
the North as well as the South Goan tourism industry, resulting in a massive
loss of jobs and livelihood of tourism dependent Goans and downscaling of
the Goan economy as Mopa Airport facilitates a tourist exodus to Sindhudurg.
For almost a year now, the Chief Minister has doggedly refused to refute the
facts and figures put out by experts like the International Civil Aviation
Organistion (ICAO) and ADPi and give any concrete and credible reason to
justify his obsession with building Mopa Airport. The Chief Minister also
needs to clarify whether the 10,000 jobs he claims will be generated by Mopa
Airport will be for migrants or for Goans. After all, Goans have not
forgotten the track record of this government. For the Lusofonia games, taxi
driving jobs were handed over to outsiders on a silver platter. Olacab too,
was allowed to ply in Goa under the watch of the Parrikar government, until
the people protested. In Goan Industrial Estates, it will be noted that 80%
of workers are migrants. If the government cannot ensure jobs for Goans in
projects where it is supposed to be in full control, then Mr. Parrikar needs
to explain how his government (if it manages to survive till then), will
succeed in forcing a private entrepreneur who operates Mopa Airport solely
on profit basis, to give jobs to Goans?
It is abundantly clear that while this government on one hand, goes with a
begging bowl to the Prime Minister asking for Special Status for Goa, on the
other hand, it is itself unscrupulously handing over Goa and Goan interests
not only to neigbouring states, but also to every non Goan who lands here
with money jingling in his pocket and ambitious dreams implemented at the
cost of our beautiful land, its people and identity.
GFDO therefore, plans to hold a massive public meeting at Azad Maidan in
Panaji, to expose the stand of various parties who are in the fray for the
2014 Parliamentary elections. In the meantime, GFDO urges the people of Goa
to closely scrutinise and assess the stands of their respective candidates
and their respective parties that have taken a stand for Mopa against Goan
interests – North as well as South.
For GOANS FOR DABOLIM ONLY
Fr. Eremito Rebelo
Convenor
