Dears, What Philip says makes absolute sense. Selma has made a valid point, too.
Whatever else we may do, Goa must have at least one CIVILIAN AIRPORT [or enclave] to remain a viable tourist destination. Interstate border crossing can put paid to tourist movements ... with Police, RTO, Excise, Customs, Forest and other checks/extortion making the tourist prefer to remain in the state where the airport is located. The Hyderabad airport shifts out of town to GHIAL on 15 March, 2008. Bangalore airport goes to BIAL at Devanahalli on 30 March, 2008. The new airports are 45 to 60 km out of town. The Congress is not the best party to run the Goa Government but the BJP is not the better option. We can at least protest and bring the Congress-led Govt to heel as we have done for Regional Plan 2011 and SEZs. Just compare that with what happened to IFFI 2004 rapid "development" [that is still incomplete if one looks at the footpaths and Panaji's Garden] or Baina demolition. If in doubt, ask Datta Damodar Naik, once a strong supporter of MP like many others [not excluding me] and allegedly one of the architects of the MGP-BJP liaison in 1994! Dista toxem asona tem. Dongor pois suttiant sazre, lagim suttiant kajre. Mog asundi. Miguel Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:41:48 +0530 From: "Philip Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] BJP is not an option for GOA <There is a general feeling that Parriker is a BJP moderate. Leaving aside Parriker's own sins of commission and omission, let us not forget, Parriker is part of a larger party, one that has never been able to reign in its extremists.>[Selma] I think Selma is absolutely right in drawing the distinction she suggests between MP and the BJP party of which he is a well known member. Let us first take the BJP party's stand on Mopa. It has coined the slogan "Never say never to Mopa". BJP was the party at the centre when the civil aviation minister bamboozled the Union Cabinet to pass resolutions to close not only Dabolim civil enclave but also those at Hyderabad and Bangalore way back in 1999-2000 (after CIAL set the precedent at the Dabolim-like naval air station at Kochi). There is also a related issue of Sindhudurg just across the border from Mopa in Maharashtra. But somebody has to watch out that by readily agreeing to a Sindhudurg airport to seemingly get one monkey off the state's back, Goa should not run the risk of losing BOTH Mopa AND the Dabolim civil enclave inadvertently. This would be a bigger tragedy than what Bangalore and Hyderabad are now facing. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
