Manohar Parrikar would have won a lifetime award for his role of Defence minister, at least as far as usurping land from the Goa government, for defence purposes goes. In a manner which can only be termed as gentle arm twisting and manipulation, he has literally extracted 5 acres of land for a naval conclave at the upcoming Mopa international airport.
The Goa government was forced to give into what can only be termed not so gently bullying. The manner which this has been done is shocking. As recently as February 28, 2016, Defence Minister Parrikar actually agreed with Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar and concurred that this land was not really required. His exact words at a press conference on Feb 28 2016 were “The question of providing land to the Navy at Mopa does not arise, until some emergency ground is created. I will clear this issue. State is right at their point. I don’t think there is a need for a hangar. The issue will be clear before opening up the tender”.
On June 2, 2016 (last week) the same Defence Minister wrote again to Chief Minister Parsekar, singing a totally different tune. He wrote “(A) Naval enclave is considered critical for naval aircraft operations and recommended to be retained. The proposed five-acre land for this purpose could be given on lease for the entire period of concession. The proposed naval infrastructure would be created for which the cost will be borne by ministry of defence with a separate independent entry/exit to the naval facility.”
Everyone in Goa will recall how Mr Parrikar as Chief Minister, used to detest the manner in which the Defense forces take over land in Goa and refuse to let it go.
On July 20, 2012, in response to a starred question in the Assembly by Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on the very same issue of the Navy demanding land at Mopa for a naval enclave, the same present Defence Minister who was the then Goa Chief Minister said, “The state government would not allow any naval enclave at the new Mopa international airport except on a “commercial basis”.
I am very patriotic and I have nothing against the armed forces but it was easier to make the Army vacate Lahore than to make them vacate their civilian installations in Panaji”
Parrikar recalled that the government had allotted the Army land on the outskirts of Panjim in exchange for the space they were occupying in Panaji. But not only did they take the land outside Panjim, they also refused to give up the space in Panjim.
Thus, when Mr Parrikar demanded Mopa land for the Navy conclave, in a complete U turn from what his stand was a Chief Minister, present CM Laxmikant Parsekar wrote to him in late 2015, asking his ministry to drop the two clauses mentioned in the defence clearance for the Mopa airport, to aid exclusive and unhindered civil operations at the proposed airport at Mopa.
Mr Parsekar wrote, “In the event of an emergency concerning national security, terrorist action, invasions or an act of war or foreign enemy, defence forces would have the right to operate from Mopa airport without payment to the concessionaire (free of cost). Such an emergency situation will have to be notified by the ministry of defense to the government of Goa”.
The Chief Minister also reminded the Defence ministry that the Dabolim airport in Goa is fully under the Navy’s control for military operations and more time slots and capacity would be available at Dabolim airport for use of the defense forces for military flying,”
When the State approached the Defence ministry for clearance for the Mopa airport, the ministry granted clearance with two clauses, under which the State had to make available a slot of at least one hour during the day for military flying in Mopa control zone.The other clause sought an area to construct an apron, hangar and admin/technical building capable of handling at least two long range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) (Boeing 737-800 equivalent) aircraft at a time.
However when the June 2 letter from Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrived, insisting that land for the Naval enclave be given to the Navy, Laxmikant Parsekar’s resistance finally broke down. After all, it is Manohar Parrikar who controls his state, not him. And it was pitiable to see the Chief Minister fumble and search for answers to justify giving in and allotting 5 acres of land for the Navy. The poor, hapless Chief Minister said that he had to consider the “security point of view”. It’s indeed funny that Mr Parrikar on Feb 28 said that the state was right and the land was not needed. So what was the new security issue in three months?
All that Defence Minister Parrikar wanted was to secure his own position in Goa and stamp his authority. That was the only “security” issue.
