The movement opposing a second airport for Goa has said it will go back to villagers around the new location to build up support against the project.
Father Ermito Rebello, who is spearheading the protest, on Tuesday called the airport project a big land scam. The state government was acquiring over 84 lakh sq. metres of land at Mopa in the north. However, the tiny state does not need a second airport in addition to the one at Dabolim. Goa must instead expand the existing international airport, the priest told a news conference. Father Ermito is leading the movement, Goa for Dabolim Only. Referring to the State Government's recent decision to invite requests for qualification (RFQ) from contractors, the priest said, "While the Goa government continues to fool people by saying that the Mopa airport is necessary and feasible, its latest Cabinet decision to gift 381 acres of land under acquisition to the future airport developer for commercial use proves us right - that the proposed airport is nothing but a massive land scam." About reports of feasibility studies that said the Dabolim airport, too, would continue to handle passenger traffic, Fr. Ermito said for both the airports to be financially viable, the total annual traffic must reach 24 million. The present air traffic in Goa is just four million passengers a year and is projected to grow to around nine million by 2035. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/goa-antiairport-group-to-move-locals-seeks-local-support/article6500724.ece -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
