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NEW *Runaway failures: a tale of failed airport projects -7* *July 15-21, 2013* *Federa airport grounded?* *Confusing aviation policy* ……………..In January 2010 the Airports Authority of India (AAI) did a feasibility study of the proposed airport, 130 km from Ahmedabad, after meeting top government officials and industry organizations. However, the Gujarat government’s commitment to the project has always been suspect and its aviation policy outwardly confused. In June the same year it announced it had created an aviation company to meet the growing demand in the public and private sector. It was to be named Gujarat State Aviation Company (GUJSAC) and would be a public sector enterprise tasked with building infrastructure and providing trained human resources for the fast growing civil aviation sector. It also set up the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Co. Ltd (GUJSAIL). By the year end, in December, Gujarat declared it would set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the Dholera international airport to be called Dholera International Airport Company Limited (DIACL), ostensibly to avail of the benefits of the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) as well as the (also proposed) Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC). The SPV was to study the public private partnership (PPP), implementation of a master plan, land acquisition and the infrastructure required……………………. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lead/327-runaway-failures-a-tale-of-failed-airport-projects-7 *Lionroars – 13* *July 15-21, 2013* *The rogue VP of Betalbatim* Despite what the news headlines say the heated issue over the gated housing complex in Betalbatim which the villagers are opposing, may not be over yet. This columnist thinks their victory may be a temporary one if the Nuvem legislator Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco is, as I believe, two-timing his own voters in this case; despite all that emerged from the July 12th critical meeting of the village panchayat (VP). And this would not be the first time either. There were just too many strange events that occurred in the run up to this victory and perhaps one of the few occasions a north Indian developer well versed in Goa’s cesspool of deceit and under-the-table money transactions; was vanquished. Let’s begin from the beginning. A resident of Majorda, Alvaro Braganza sold approximately 3,000 sq mt of his land at Betalbatim to a person/s who has come to be known as Ibrahim & Sons, predictably through a non resident Goan possibly from the same village but now believed to be a resident of Benaulim. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/lion-roars/lion-roars-2013/325-lionroars-14 *July 15-21, 2013* *Falling rupee could crash land Mopa* It should be the next level of anxiety but nevertheless it’s going to be a reality when Mopa comes, if it comes. When swanky airports built by private companies come, user fees follow because it costs thousands of crores sometimes to build airports. And they are always destined to go skywards as passengers using the Greenfield Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports are discovering, several years after they were completed. So Mopa becoming a reality will definitely come with the rider that travelers will have to fork out big money to use the airport. For those not in the know, the story unfolding at Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports are a glimpse into the future. While at Dabolim, which is run by the Airports Authority of India (a government-agency), Mopa will have a PPP model. Therefore the current airport is not charging flyers an arm and a leg to use it, but at Mopa, the picture will be totally different………………. Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/news-summary/324-falling-rupee-could-crash-land-mopa *July 15-21, 2013* *Team GS* *Proof of the Pudding….* After 16 months as the chief minister of Goa, it’s time Manohar Parrikar stops acting like an opposition leader whose only focus is to score brownie points off the Congress and get down to governance rather than making expansive promises about accomplishing all and sundry. And nothing happens on the ground. The casino issue is an example. Parrikar is still stuck on exposing the Congress. “The first casino was given the license by Congress. All subsequent casinos came to the state during the tenure of the Congress government. They should answer the people how much money they have made by issuing licenses,” he said last week…………….. Full story: * * http://goanspirit.com/index.php/contact-us/letters/111-the-week-that-was/328-proof-of-the-pudding *July 15-21, 2013* *Goa’s Vintage Vinters* *Lionel Messias* Like wine is all about how long it is matured, it seems logical to assume that homemade wine makers traditionally called vintners are matured persons themselves. Proof of my age theory is the fact that two of Goa’s truly dedicated vintners are 80 (Dr John Carmo Rodrigues) and 65-years-old (Anselmo Mascarhenas and his co-vintner/wife Mary Santan). From the confines of their homes in Chinchinim and Parra respectively, they turn out an incredible array of fruity wines albeit in small quantities because without the modern technology used by big and popular wine makers, theirs is undoubtedly a painstaking task. “A tiny bit of air leakage into the pot during the fermentation process will turn wine into vinegar. In fact, right now we are selling some vinegar which was meant to be grape wine,” Mary Santan said, brushing off her loss with a smile. The smile is also proof that even after 30-years of fine tuning right up to being perfect vintners today, a hiccup can occur…………… Full story: http://goanspirit.com/index.php/travel/326-goa-s-vintage-vintners Lionel Messias Editor, *Goan Spirit*, *Goa's Spirited Online Weekly Magazine.* ** Website:www.goanspirit.com Worked for the best: Goa Today, Gomantak Times, Herald, Mid-Day, The Pioneer, Indian Express (Bangalore), Economic Times (Chennai, Hyderabad), Newstime (Hyderabad), Gulf News (Hyderabad) 125-E, Bellem, Velsao, P.O. Cansaulim, Goa 403712 Tel: 0832-2884484 Mob:9822152164
