Says no plans either to shift Naval base
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Defence Minister AK Anthony has categorically asserted that the civilian airport would continue at Dabolim and the Navy and the Centre would provide all possible support, but added that there were no plans to shift naval aviation wing from Goa.
“There’s no plan like that”, he said responding to a query in presence of the Chief of Naval Staff, Adm DK Joshi while speaking to media after commissioning the MiG 29K INAS 303 ‘Black Panthers’ Squadron at the INS Hansa Base Saturday.
The Defence Minister also assured that the Dabolim civilian airport will co-exist along with the naval base and any issue, will be solved amicably with the Goa Government. “Indian Navy is always thankful to all the Governments of Goa and people of Goa for giving support to the Navy’s efforts”, he said, adding, “In the past all the problems have been solved and whenever any such problems come up in future, we will generously sort it out.”
There has been a lot of pressure from certain sections on taking the airport back from the Navy and using it only for civilian purposes only and a fierce debate still rages on, fuelled by the State government plans to expedite the construction of the Mopa Greenfield airport.
Earlier, the MiG 29K INAS 303 Black Panther squadron was commissioned by the Defence Minister on Saturday morning at the INS Hansa Naval Base in Dabolim, as the Navy’s aviation wing celebrates its Diamond Jubilee.
The multi role fighters will be based on aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya which is expected to join the navy in December this year.
The squadron under Commanding Officer Captain A D Theofilus was commissioned with 16 aircrafts with its base at the INS Hansa.
A dressed up naval base greeted the Defence Minister who inspected the Guard of Honour. The naval wing also held a fly past followed by a pair of Sea Harriers escorting a MiG 29K at the speed of 800 kms per hour before the official commissioning.
The MIG 29Ks were inducted in February 2010 and underwent rigorous trials before Saturday’s commissioning.
Defence Minister congratulated the Naval Staff on the commissioning of the new fleet of fighter aircrafts to its aviation wing. “The security scenario is changing, more so in the oceans. Security of the sea-lines are all the more important now a days because sea-lines are our life lines,” he said adding “Acquisition of new technology and better training of personnel would give the Navy provide an edge over adversaries,”
Flying the MiG 29K from the Vikramaditya, the aircraft carried to be launched in December, will be a challenge, he emphasized.
As the Naval Aviation wing is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee year the Defence Minister cautioned the Navy that along with taking stock of achievements it should also introspect and chart out a roadmap to face future challenges.
The first Naval Aviation unit INS Garuda was commissioned in 1963 in Cochin. The Chief of Naval Staff, Adm D K Joshi was delighted on the commissioning of the MiG 29K squadron and congratulated the officers and sailors. The Navy in its expansion and enhancement will be inducting a large number of aircrafts, informed the Naval Chief.
