Mopa locals oppose airport Say politicians interested in land speculation
JAGDEEP POKLE PANJIM, JUNE 19 Mopa villagers under the banner of the ‘Mopa Vimantall Pidit Xetkari Samiti’ have questioned the State government on its claim of having acquired land in Mopa for the proposed greenfield international airport. They say that Pernem politicians are keen on the project because many have acquired land at cheap rates near Mopa, and are hoping to reap a windfall when the airport starts to come up. Members of the Samiti accused the government of misguiding the people of Goa by asserting that the land acquisition at Mopa is in its final stage. Speaking exclusively to HCN TV’s Jagdeep Pokle, Secretary of the Mopa Vimantall Pidit Xetkari Samiti Sandeep Kambli stated that the State government has not acquired any land from the farmers of the area. Kambli asked: “How can the government claim that land acquisition is at its final stage? None of the farmers from Mopa and the surrounding affected villages have sold their land till date to the government.” He said that the government has till now not specified how much land is required for constructing the airport. To prove their point, members of the Samiti asked that if the Union Cabinet actually gave its nod to the international airport at Mopa just on 14 June, 2010 then why were successive State governments claiming, since 2000, that the Centre has approved the airport? Kambli said: “Right from 1996, successive governments in Goa claimed that the Centre had given its ‘green signal’ for the proposed airport at Mopa, misguiding locals from Pernem taluka.” The Samiti was formed recently by a group of locals from Mopa and surrounding villages who are opposed to the idea of having the proposed airport at Mopa. Locals from Mopa, Chandel, Kasarvorem, Varkhand and Uguem villages, all of which are going to be affected once Mopa airport starts taking shape, are part of this Samiti. Objecting to the proposed airport, they stated that it would result in ecological devastation in the surrounding villages, depriving the locals of their only means of livelihood and income – farming. Samiti member Digambar Tulaskar said: “All the locals in these villages have fields, and more than 85 per cent of them depend solely on farming for their livelihood. The farmers will not part with their land. They have to save it for their future generations.” Further, Samiti members lashed out at the government and at Minister of Sports and Panchayats Manohar Babu Azgaonkar, who is also the Dhargal MLA, for giving empty assurances of employment once the Mopa airport becomes operational. Kambli queried: “If the airport is being built on BOOT basis by private participation, and would be operated in same way, then how can the State government possibly come into the picture and offer employment?” Tulaskar added: “The only jobs which would come our way are those of sweepers and servants, as other jobs would require high educational and technical qualifications, which our youngsters do not have.” Kambli alleged that both Azgaonkar and Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar are keen on the Mopa airport as they have “vested interests”. Kambli said: “Numerous bigwigs from the socio-political circle of Goa, including Parsekar, have purchased sizeable amounts of plots at Mopa over the last three years, and are hoping that the value of their property would escalate after the construction of the airport starts.” Kambli said he had obtained the details of land purchase in Mopa under RTI from the Pernem Sub Registrar’s office. http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Mopa-locals-oppose-airport/38019.html VIVA GOA -- Please post your comments on my Blog: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/ Please also see below: 1. Benaulim Village Action Committee: http://www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/ 2. "Rape of Goa" : http://www.parrikar.com/blog/the-rape-of-goa/ 3. MAND - an adivasi-rights resource centre : http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/ 4. EVERY GOAN SHOULD SEE THIS VIDEO: http://infochangeindia.org/Infochange-documentary.html 5. For the Love of Konkani: http://www.radiogoa.net/ 6. Goa's Identity Movement website: http://www.goamag.net/gim 7. Goa's Identity Movement group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com//#/group.php?gid=193497031686 8. Official Government Site NRI Office (GOA): http://www.globalgoans.org.in/
