Mopa, a fraud on Goans - By Jose Maria Miranda Despite the enthusiastic support and the impressive show of strength displayed by all MLAs for the Government motion on Special Status for Goa, serious and well founded suspicions are being raised about the sincerity of the same Government on the issue, when it is, at the same time, hastily pushing through the Mopa airport project. The BJP, which conveniently concealed this project in its electoral manifesto, is in tearing hurry to call for bids without awaiting the mandatory Environment Impact Assessment. Reason: Finances for imminent LS elections. In a State, where developable land is only around 350 km2, can there be any justification for acquisition of 80 lakh m2 at Mopa, while major airports like Bangalore and Hyderabad are content with 35 and 45 lakh m2 respectively? The scam starts here. Further, a private party building the airport on PPP basis will be free to convert the remaining area (sufficient enough for another airport) into an SEZ or whatever he thinks fit – hotels, casinos, housing, etc. Neither the Govt. nor the people of Goa will have any say in employment or the kind of development. Communication, transport and every other activity will be taken over by the private party. Hence, the bogey of developing North Goa or employment for locals is a hoax with our own representatives cheating and giving false promises to their constituents to suit their own interests. Far, on the contrary, Goans will be marginalized and an unprecedented influx of outsiders will follow for whatever jobs the PPP can offer. Distances to Mopa, leave alone from South Goa, but even from North like Panchwadi, 87 kms against nearly half to Dabolim, have totally been ignored. Keri in Satari is equidistant from both airports
Mopa lies at the foot of Western Ghats, protected now by UNESCO. Goa, Maharashtra & Karnataka are countersignatories to the MOEF assurance to UNESCO to protect WG. Further, Mopa is a plateau with slopes on all sides which according to estimates require roughly 50 lakh cubic metres of soil to cover them. Accordingly, it is felt that several hills will have to be leveled to provide soil for the area. Imagine this destruction for something that is unnecessary. This and other activities connected with the airport, like fuel emissions, etc are likely to have an environmental impact on the protected site. For these reasons, it is anticipated that EIA clearance may not be granted. While the Government swears by the aam admi and the backward classes, castes and tribes, it is also rushing through this project to escape the new Bill on Land Acquisition, now before Parliament, and thus deprive the poor farmers of their rightful compensation. The new Bill entitles the owners not only to the market value of their land but also partnership in the proposed project and 25% sharing of profits in the venture. Whereas now they will receive only around Rs 34 per m2, insufficient even for a vantto of small fish. This is the mother of all scams. Mopa is being created on the pretext that Dabolim will be saturated by 2017, but with the assurance that the latter will continue. However, to nail down the lies of those for whom it is expedient to assure that Dabolim will continue, solely to remain in power, we have the testimony of our former Rajya Sabha MP, John Fernandes, published in Vauraddeancho Ixtt of 13/4/2013 who, less than two months back, met none other than Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh. Singh is reported to have told him that the Centre has no connection with Mopa and that once Mopa comes, the Navy’s demand for vacating Dabolim will be strengthened, with no scope for it to be turned down, after a fullfledged airport at Mopa. Further, have the Armed Forces ever been known to keep their commitments? Hasn’t the Navy gone back on its commitments at Angediva and in releasing 12.4 acres of land at Dabolim for civilian use? Hasn’t the Military refused to honour its written commitment to shift their establishment in Panjim to Bambolim? No doubt, all this has happened because we have had and have impotent Governments and people, who otherwise put on airs of bravery but are cowards before the Defence Forces. Even with the Navy where it is, why can it not relinquish at least vacant and other space not used for operational purposes? Though Dabolim with its new terminal is sufficient for roughly 20 years, with additional space it can continue forever, dispensing with another airport altogether. The area in Dabolim is roughly 450 HA or say 45,00,000 m2, of which only 35 HAs are used by the civilian airport and the runway. This accounts for only 7.5% of the total area, whereas the Navy uses around 30 HAs for Golf Course and sports grounds and has 100 HAs available in half a dozen unoccupied plots. Further, it has constructed several residential quarters in Dabolim for Navy personnel not employed in Goa. Besides, it is occupying a large area in Vasco da Gama, and around 2 to 3 sq kms, in Cavelossim, where they have apparently at least two illegally built holiday homes and electricity connection without test reports. My question is: Is it right for the Navy to have vacant land, play golf and other games, have holiday homes/residential quarters and other entertainment at the cost of depriving Goans of their scarce land and forcing down their throats another airport on land of poor farmers, Isn’t the Navy satisfied with our privileged and rich island of Angediva, stupidly handed over without any compensation or a commitment for additional land or withdrawal from Dabolim? The Defence Minister, Mr. A K Anthony did not sound intransigent on Dabolim, stating that problems can be “generously sorted out”, implying, to my mind, that the Navy may be open to surrendering more land for airport’s expansion. The intelligent Goan has certainly realized that the main problem may not be with the Navy but with politicians and real estate agents who have joined hands to make a killing at Mopa. The purpose of this article is to smash the myth that Mopa is needed because Dabolim is saturated – to nail the lies that Dabolim will continue after Mopa comes – to expose the land scam at Mopa, the biggest of all times – to defend the rights of my downtrodden brothers at the mercy of the land mafia and their associates who have sold their conscience and have no compunctions in subjugating the poor by handing over to a private party, not only unnecessary but double the land needed for an airport. Here is a also a challenge to the Government for a debate on the issue. Goans, stand up for your rights. If you love Goa, you will be there at Lohia Maidan on 15th May to expose the hypocrites who profess love for Goa and for Goans and yet are out to destroy it and marginalize us. Let us stop the so-called “saviour” of Goa turning into a grave digger of Goa and Goans.
