TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The meeting organized by the Goans For Dabolim Only at the Confraria Hall near Agacaim Church on Sunday demanded that the Dabolim airport should be retained as state’s only civilian airport.
Esperdiao Dias president of the Confraria categorically said that Dabolim airport should be retained as it is an historical airport. “During Portugese time it was civilian airport but now Navy is occupying it. All the people of Agacaim will support Dabolim as only airport,” he told the gathering which was attended amongst others by the sarpanch and former MLA Agnelo Silveira.
Rajendra Kakodkar pointed out that Dabolim having capacity of 35 lakh passengers per year at present and after construction of the new terminal, the capacity would increase to 95 lakhs per year. “So where is requirement of new airport at Mopa?” he asked.
The extra 60 lakhs capacity will take more than 25 years as per projections of ICAO but since tourism on the decline it may take more time, Kakodkar observed. Speakers felt that for Mopa airport to be profitable Goa will need 2.5 cr passengers, but for this Goa does not have infrastructure.
Fr Eremito Rebello in the forefront of the movement said that the previous govt lied to the committee that 70000 sqmts of land was available and so the govt dropped the acquisition of 36000 sqmts land outside the airport. But till date they cannot find this land and are still searching.
“All the politicians who did this are anti nationals as their deeds were against national interest,” he alleged arguing that poor farmers of Mopa are being uprooted from their motherland. “They have so many trees, orchards fields which are cultivated and these farmers earn their living. The land is all agricultural and all this will be destroyed if Mopa comes. Our politicians fail to see the truth which is front of their eyes, our learned CM should see this plight,” he said.
He further said that there are nearly 36 fresh water springs around the plateau which the people from surrounding villages use and the plateau is like a sponge which absorbs water and releases water throughout the year.
