Goa too small for two airports: Alina “The Chief Minister assured me that the EIA study pertaining to the new airport is in progress and the Concession Agreement would be signed only after the EIA study is completed and environmental clearance obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. I have faith in my Chief Minister,”
Alina Saldanha, Minister for Environment and Forests NT NETWORK PANAJI: Indirectly indicating her opposition to the proposed Mopa International Greenfield Airport, in Pernem taluka, Minister for Environment and Forests Alina Saldanha on Tuesday said that she is following the viewpoint of her late husband and former tourism minister Matanhy Saldanha as regards this airport, and feels that Goa is too small for two airports. “He was also of the opinion that Dabolim should be treated as a civilian airport, as it allows commercial flights,” she added, reiterating that Dabolim Airport would be enough to take care of Goa’s requirements as regards the civil aviation transport. It may be recalled that differences in the state cabinet over the Mopa International Airport issue had became apparent last week as Saldanha, and the Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado wanted the government to come out with explanations on various issues including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. The government soon floated a global tender notice pertaining to Request for Qualification (RFQ) for development of this airport, on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. Speaking further, the Minister for Environment and Forests said that she did not write a letter to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on this issue, but had put up a related note, expressing the fears of the voters in her constituency, as well as those of the residents of South Goa, especially the apprehension about the Environment Impact Assessment for the proposed airport. “The Chief Minister assured me that the EIA study pertaining to the new airport is in progress and the Concession Agreement would be signed only after the EIA study is completed and environmental clearance obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,” he mentioned. When asked if she is satisfied with the assurance of the Chief Minister, Saldanha said, “I have faith in my Chief Minister.”
