TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Demanding that the government do a re-think on setting up a second airport at Mopa, Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) on Saturday appealed to the government to immediately start re-acquisition of the land in Survey No 8/1 in Dabolim.
Contradicting CM’s claim that the Airports of Authority of India had not responded to government’s request to submit its plan for Dabolim, GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebelo said facts in their possession reveal otherwise.
“On February 13, 2013, the AAI wrote to the government that they require 40,000 square metres of land in Survey No 8/1 for airport infrastructural facilities and pointed out that it had already deposited a sum of Rs 4.23 crore in June 2010 with the Government of Goa for the purpose. On April 12, 2013, the AAI again wrote to the state government that the said land was needed not only for parking, but also for cargo, fuel farm, warehouses and airline offices,” Fr Rebello said, adding “after meeting and holding detailed discussions with the Member Secretary MPDA, the Collector (South), the Chief Secretary of Goa and other concerned authorities, GFDO has come to the conclusion that the land bearing Sy No 8/1 remains the only land available within the jurisdiction of Goa government for setting up of the city side facilities and critical expansion of Dabolim airport.”
He said the dubious certificates and statements made by the authorities along with omissions and commissions of the state government have put the economic growth of the state in jeopardy. “Two years after the de-notification on the pre-condition of acquiring alternate 70,000 sq m land, the state government has still not started the acquisition, while it is turning a Nelson’s Eye to the ongoing speedy construction by builders,” Fr Rebelo said.
“Despite the centrally located Dabolim airport being a major engine of the Goan economy, the state government has not set in place any policy for it till date. There is not a single state government authority for the administration, management and growth of Dabolim airport and the state has failed miserably to provide administrative or planning support to the extent that even land promised for airport expansion has been denied,” he said, adding that this raises serious doubts on the government’s true intentions with regard to Dabolim, and its claim that Dabolim will remain functional even if Mopa airport comes into being. “This is even more apparent in light of the fact that a well-oiled administrative machinery is already in place for a non-existent Mopa airport at great cost to the public exchequer, not including the 80 lakh square metres of precious Goan land being farmed out to private parties when the state has been blessed with a perfectly functional Dabolim airport, which can suffice forever,” he warned.
