MARGAO: Former PWD minister, Churchill Alemao has expressed satisfaction that AICC general secretary Luizinho Faleiro and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha have now realised that two airports would not be feasible for Goa.
He has now hoped that both Faleiro and Sardinha would use their good offices in Delhi to get the proposed airport at Mopa scrapped, while demanding that Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar should see reason and do a re-think on the second airport.
Addressing the media, Churchill said he was criticised both within and outside the Congress for politicising the airport issue when he took up the cause of Dabolim airport. “I am happy that both Faleiro and Sardinha have now realised that two airports cannot be financially viable and that Dabolim would be closed down if Mopa becomes a reality,” Churchill said, while saying that he would publicly thank the duo on behalf of the people of Goa if they manage to get Mopa airport project scrapped.
“Both Faleiro and Sardinha had written letters to the Centre in favour of the airport at North Goa. I was underestimated when I had opposed Mopa around 7-8 years ago. But, now since Faleiro and Sardinha are in Delhi and occupy good posts, they have now realised that two airports are not feasible and should fight to get the second airport scrapped,” he said.
Saying that it is not too late to scrap the Mopa airport, Churchill said all the people of Goa should unite and join hands to get Mopa airport scrapped and to retain only Dabolim as Goa’s lone international airport. “The government should acquire the huge land lying idle with the Birlas to build a second runway at Dabolim,” he added.
