The lyrics by Woody Guthrie come to mind when I think about the Government of Goa’s ambitious Greenfield Mopa airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week laid the foundation stone for Mopa at Bambolim which is almost 50 km away. The internet went berserk with jokes like, “Inauguration of Mopa foundation stone at Bambolim should go in the Guinness Book of Records! I am definitely writing them!!!” to “Now it will be known as Mopa-Bambolim airport, and as long as they do not construct the airport from Bambolim using a 3D printer,” ripped through the event.
Jokes apart, one thing that clearly stands out in regard to Mopa is that Goans across the state have rejected Mopa, just like the tribes rejected and rallied against the Dakota Access pipeline. Mopa greenfield airport is wrong. Why? Mopa is not needed when we already have the Greenfield Sindhudurg airport being built at Chipi-Parule, which is only about 100 km from Goa’s border. Having been in the aviation sector for the past 30 years, the rule states that, “Airports have to be situated at a distance of 150 kms from one another.” Mopa is only 75 kms from Dabolim airport and 100 kms from Sindhudurg. Goa is the only state which will have three international airports — Dabolim, Mopa and Sindhudurg.
But the government doesn’t see it, the bureaucrats don’t see it and neither do the politicians see it.
Pushing the argument for Mopa, the Goa Government says, by the time the airport is completed it will be able to handle 28 million passengers. Currently Dabolim airport handles approximately 5 million passengers annually and is the 9th largest airport in the country. But to put traffic numbers in perspective, Bangalore which is the 3rd largest airport handles 18 million passengers annually whilst Mumbai airport handles over 35 million passengers and Delhi handles over 40 million passengers annually. Goa just does not seem to match these numbers and it is not possible for the passenger traffic to grow 5 times over the next few years.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, recently informed in a press conference that, “Mopa airport will have code 4F runway capable of landing A380 jumbo aircraft.” The A380 aircraft is designed for high density routes preferably on longer distances which make the operations economical. Given the above traffic projections, Goa is definitely not a high density route which justifies A380 operations.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways announced in September that a six-lane expressway will be constructed, connecting the upcoming Mopa airport in North Goa, to the National Highway 17 at the cost of Rs 300 crore. There is further information that a proposal is in the pipeline to connect Mopa with a railway line from Pernem to Canacona. Now, it requires a lot of land to be taken over to build a parallel railway track as well as an express way. The government needs to clarify on how they will acquire the land, what is the compensation for the same and transparently let the people know the exact plans on connecting North Goa to South Goa.
In the Concession Agreement, the government has plans for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Pernem to train the youth in aviation-related services so that they can undertake jobs at Mopa airport. If the government had good intention, then why was aviation training not suggested five years ago. Why have they come up with this only now. Further, there needs to be clarity on exactly what kind of training will be provided and will it benefit Goans. There is a clause to the training of local youth too as a news report quoted Parsekar saying, “If the agency does not receive enough applications from persons of affected families at Mopa or Goans, it would not be restricted from hiring others.” We have seen in the past how Goans are hired for jobs in the lower rung, while people from other states are given preference for top jobs.
The Goa government has acquired 22 lakh square metres of land for the project. The land was acquired from the villages of Chandel, Casarvarnem and Varkhand. In the concession agreement the government is offering GMR 232 acres of land for commercial city side development for a period of 40 years extendable for another 20 years. The government needs to answer to the people of Goa as to why are they gifting away land which they have grabbed from the Goan people. Will the people get their fair share of royalty from the land use? Has this process to give 232 acres been a transparent process?
Further, as per the revenue sharing agreement, GMR is to share with the Government of Goa 36.9% of the profits generated from Mopa. We would like to know on what basis has this percentage been agreed upon and what is the provision in case of loss?
Mopa is not being built for greater good of the State. It is being built for the greater ego of few individuals and the government.
Mopa airport is nothing but a land scam. Adverts by builders and individuals market Mopa as a hot destination for people to invest in real estate on various websites and newspapers. The advertisements showcase gated homes built amid green hills with flowing streams. Some ads read, “For all those who would like to invest in this piece of pie, please connect with us.”
If this is the way the government is going to function then we need to bid farewell to our lands and be ready to be doomed to hell for we are fools who refuse to protect our inheritance.
(The author is Managing Director of Aviation Travel & Tourism Services (ATTS))
