The anti-Mopa movement just got a pro-Dabolim kick and it is growing. Leading
the charge against Mopa Airport is Fr Eremito Rebelo, the man who was Matanhy
Saldanha’s running mate and a regular of Goa’s many movements On the sidelines
of the mid-week rally that attracted six MLAs amongst others, Fr Eremito tells
The Goan why his movement mattersNeshwin Almeida | The Goan 18 May 2013Pic
Credit: Sagun GawadeThe Goan: Why this sudden interest in Dabolim and a popular
movement to shutdown Mopa now, after the state’s claim that the land for Mopa
airport has been acquired?Fr Eremito Rebelo: I am deeply hurt by the CM’s
statement that Matanhy supported Mopa. It’s wrong to fool the people by making
such statements. Matanhy was anti-Mopa till the end. I smell a rat in
Parrikar’s hasty methods of acquiring land in Mopa.TG: Isn’t your premise for
the anti-Mopa movement skewed, since the Civil Aviation ministry has confirmed
that Dabolim will remain as a civil enclave?ER: This is a lie. I have enough
documents and communication between the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Goa
government that state that Dabolim would be closed and given to the Navy after
Mopa is set up.TG: You have been on record likening Mopa land acquisition to
the SEZs. What reasons have you to believe so?ER: This is a movement of truth
and a movement of the people. The large numbers that turned out in support of
Dabolim says it all. People will fight for scrapping Mopa and the illegal means
of land acquisition.TG: What is your basis for your anti Mopa movement?ER:
First negotiate with the Navy to go or to release the huge chunks of land that
it is using for its recreation facility. Increase Dabolim airport’s land
holding, create a dedicated runway, build more terminals and then say we can’t
manage with Dabolim.TG: Don’t you think that your whole movement is based more
on public emotions running high?ER: Ours is a movement of truth. The truth is
that Dabolim belongs to Goa, that the Navy has grabbed land for golf courses,
squash courts and more.The truth is that Dabolim can be world class like
Gatwick if it is properly upgraded, the truth is that everyone from Rane to
Sardinha to Luizinho to Parrikar are a part of Mopa’s land grab and the people
want to unite to prevent this scam.TG: Mopa has lost out at the High Court and
the government. How do you expect to make a government that is in majority and
has the Centre’s backing to stop going ahead with the Mopa project?ER: I will
continue to fight and lead the people to the light and will write a great
testimony of how Goa refused Mopa as it was not required and did the impossible
to save Dabolim. Either Parrikar supports us or loses out.
