Both say, present airport can meet requirements; there’s no justification for second
TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Goa Vikas Party Chief Mickky Pacheco and former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao on Saturday attacked the government’s rationale in having two airports for Goa, while asserting that the proposed airport at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra cannot be a ground for the state government to push the Mopa airport.
Pacheco went a step further and demanded to know whether the Goa government would build an airport at Canacona if the Karnataka government proposes an airport at Karwar.
In separate press conferences, both Mickky and Churchill made it abundantly clear that there is no justification to build the airport at Mopa when Dabolim can be expanded to meet the requirements. “Dabolim is centrally located. There is no justification for the government to go in for another airport. Instead of going for Mopa, the government should promote centrally located Dabolim. Rope in good consultants from Canada and elsewhere and expand the Dabolim airport,” he said. Pacheco said the government can expand Dabolim by acquiring land from the Birlas. “I fail to understand why the government is thinking about tourism for the next 25 years when it is on the decline in the last two years. “Tourism is looking up in Kerala, but there is a decline in Goa. This is a big question. We have to create the infrastructure. I don’t think tourism in Goa has declined because of the Dabolim airport,” Mickky said.
Churchill Alemao said there is no harm if the Maharashtra government goes ahead with the airport at Sindhudurg. “Let the Maharashtra government have an airport at Sindhudurg. Just because the airport is coming across the border, our government cannot build Mopa at the cost of tourism and the lives of the people depending on tourism,” Alemao asserted. Alemao said he is not ready to believe anyone on the assurances that Dabolim will not be closed down once Mopa is ready.
“I will not believe in Sardinha, Shantaram, Mauvin or Luizinho on Dabolim. The Civil Aviation Ministry should give a guarantee that Dabolim would remain forever,” he added. Replying to a question, Churchill said he doesn’t require this issue to contest the Lok Sabha polls.
