FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s resolve to float the Request for Qualification (RFQ) in respect of the proposed airport at Mopa before May 30 ended Thursday without the floating of tender, even as he said his government would make an offer to the Prime Minister to shift Navy to Mopa and give Dabolim for civilian operations.
When Herald reminded him during his visit to the District Collectorate ~ for naming the administrative complex after late Matanhy Saldanha ~ about his decision to float the RFQ before May 30, Parrikar shot back “the proposal is still on... We could not float the RFQ before May 30 for certain reasons. There is time to float the RFQ. It makes no difference if there is a delay of few days”.
Interestingly, a smiling Parrikar during an informal chat with media persons said his government would make an offer to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on shifting Navy to Mopa and expanding the Dabolim airport to meet the civilian needs. “I have sought an appointment with PM on June 5. When it is confirmed, we will submit a representation to him to shift the Navy to Mopa,” he said.
When asked whether the Prime Minister or the Centre would agree to the proposal, Parrikar, smilingly, said the government would send it to the Prime Minister to take a call.
During his visit to the South Goa District Collectorate along with Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva on May 18, the Chief Minister had ruled out any re-think on the Mopa airport and had vowed to float the RFQ before May 30. Parrikar had stirred a controversy by saying the Navy would never give a square meter of land for Dabolim expansion and had offered free land if the Navy was ready to shift to Mopa.
Parrikar’s statement had drawn strong criticism from the convenor of Dabolim for Goans Only Fr Eremito Rebello, who went to the extent of predicting a fall of the Parrikar regime if the government went ahead with Mopa against the wishes of the Goan people.
