PORVORIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has allayed apprehensions that the proposed Greenfield International airport at Mopa will recruit only non-Goan candidates, assuring that bona fide Goans would be given preference.
However, he emphasised that there won’t be any compromise to the top and crucial posts wherein merit would be primary criteria in selection of the candidates.
“We cannot compromise on the safety of passengers and therefore he candidates for the top and crucial posts would be selected on merits and only after having proper certifications,” Parrikar told the State Legislative Assembly amidst opposition benches demanding more jobs to locals at the upcoming airport.
Around 2,000 jobs in the skilled and unskilled categories would be created once the airport is operational. The preference has also been sub-divided with locals from six villages around the project given top priority followed by youth from Pernem taluka and the entire state.
Parrikar also said that GMR Goa International Airport Limited that would operate the airport has carried out survey on the availability of local manpower in the six villages with the help of Goa University. “Data will be available on how many people can be employed from the nearby villages,” he told the House during the Question Hour.
Congress Legislator Jennifer Monserrate had tabled starred question seeking to know Goa government’s stand over employment to the locals at this project, which is expected to be commissioned in the year 2020. Parrikar responded that Under Article 5 – Obligations of the Concessionaire of Concession Agreement, a provision has been made for providing jobs for locals.
“All riders are in place in the agreement which will be signed with GMR Goa International Airport Limited. The company should give preference to bona fide Goans for all the jobs and advertise all the job vacancies in the airport in at least three dailies having wide circulation in the state,” he stated. The agreement is expected to be completed by October 2017 with state government to monitor its implementation. The skill development programs running from three months to one and half year would be held to train the local manpower at ITI Pernem once the construction at Mopa commences, he informed.
The chief minister advised the local population not to sell their lands which are adjacent to the airports and outside the commercial zone. “I have been advising not to sell the land which is outside the commercial zone. The rest development zone will become high activity area. This can be exploited by locals for various activities,” he explained hinting at creation of self-employment too.
Legislator Aleixo Reginald Lourenco intervened in the discussion seeking a guarantee from Parrikar that locals would be employed at Mopa, unlike the situation created at the existing Dabolim airport. Parrikar alleged that former government, run by Congress did not take precautions to ensure Goans were recruited at Dabolim and at the same time Goa was a union territory, ruled by the Centre. “There was no written agreement on allocating certain percentage of vacancies for Goans, but we have it for Mopa project,” he said.
To another question by legislator Churchill Alemao, the Minister for Airport stated, “To run the airport is not a joke. There are highly-skilled posts and if Goan candidate is available on merit, he will get the job. There is pre-activity happening during which 25 people are being trained for top most of which eight are Goans.”
He went on mention that at certain areas, one cannot compromise on quality. “There are 25 per cent of the positions where compromise cannot be done; I am sure amongst that 8-10 per cent will be eligible Goans. I will get them trained and I will see that Goans are preferred,” Parrikar said.
He emphasized to the House that Mopa will not be under the Airport Authority of India but under GMR Goa International Airport Limited, which is also operating the Delhi airports. “Getting a certification from the AAI (for particular qualified posts) does mean it is controlled by AAI,” he commented.
This year-end will have 500 jobs created followed by 1,500 vacancies next year and 1,700 vacancies in 2019 year. During the transition phase, the job vacancies will rise to additional 50 (1750) in the year 2020 and during the operations, the total jobs would be 2,000. These will be in addition to jobs created outside the airport through tourist taxis, eateries, etc.
Parrikar also revealed about rehabilitating the displaced 14 families from Dhangar community in the nest one or two months. Out of 15 families, only one family accepted the compensation while the remaining opted for residing at an alternate site.
