September 21, 2013 PRESS STATEMENT
Goans For Dabolim Only expresses shock that the Chief Minister does not think it fit to create a Directorate of Civil Aviation to facilitate and coordinate issues related to Dabolim Airport, despite the Chief Minister himself having recently pointed out that AAI was not utilising land allotted to it efficiently and optimally. Yet, the Chief Minister is now catering to the whims of the Central Government against wishes of his own people, who have clearly and unambiguously expressed their total opposition to the unwarranted second airport, when Goa already has an existing airport in Dabolim that will serve the civil aviation needs of the state for decades to come. GFDO welcomes the CM's statement that the government is going “as per all legal provisions and that no work will start till the EIA is complete”. However, the Chief Minister needs to explain to the people of Goa why he has been keeping them in the dark as to the following : 1. Why does the CM think it is legal to acquire community resources like land, even before the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is complete and feasibility of the proposed airport at Mopa has been established? 2. What makes the CM feel that his government has the moral right to traumatise Goan farmers of Mopa by disrupting their lives and their livelihood for a project whose feasibility has not legally been established by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)? 3. Has all the land of around 80 lakh sq. metres been acquired only for the purpose of the airport, or is any of the land to be handed to private parties for commercial purposes other than the airport construction? If so, the people of Goa must first know the quantum of land earmarked for this, and the proposed purpose. 4. On what information and statistics has the government based its assumption that both Mopa and Dabolim will be sustainable and viable in such close proximity to each other, besides the numerous other proposed airports that are slated for the region? 5. What is the reason for the Chief Minister’s reluctance and failure to approach the Navy with a request for additional land for Dabolim Airport for its future expansion before plunging into the major process of setting up a second airport, which fact has been confirmed to the GFDO at its recent meeting with the Navy. 6. What is the reason for the Chief Minister’s reluctance to re notify the Survey 8/1 which is crucial for expansion of Dabolim airport city side facilities especially in view of the fact that it was denotified under false assumptions and permitted to fall into the hands of commercial builders? 7. GFDO has recently met the Director of Dabolim Airport who explained to us the plans prepared by AAI for Dabolim Airport growth. These plans clearly show that just 12.5 acres additional land for civilian purposes inside the airport, and 9 acres of land outside it, are sufficient to expand Dabolim Airport to meet the needs of Goa for perpetuity. Why is the State Government refusing to reserve these lands for the airport, thereby seriously threatening the long term interests of of Goa? 8. The State Government had promised to put up all the facts regarding Dabolim and proposed Mopa airports in the Public Domain. Instead, why is the Government hiding all the relevant facts in this regard, including those mentioned above, from the eyes of the Public?
Fr. Eremito Rebello Convenor
