TEAM HERALD
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CANACONA: Opposition to the proposed Mopa airport by local bodies in South Goa has gathered further momentum, with the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) on Friday unanimously resolving to oppose the proposed airport in Pernem taluka.
In the council’s special meeting with a single point agenda of the proposed Mopa Airport, eight of the 10 councillors attended and discussed the issue threadbare, before passing the resolution unanimously.
In the discussion that followed, Councillors Suchita Naik Gaunkar and Rama Naik Gaunkar favoured both airports at Dabolim and Mopa, arguing that Dabolim alone will be insufficient for future generations. The two councillors demanded that if Mopa airport comes, the Dabolim airport should not be closed.
The other six councillors opposed the proposed Mopa airport and claimed that coming up of airport at Mopa would see the end of Dabolim airport.
Majority of the councillors supporting Chairperson Ajay Bhagat said it will in turn spell a doom for the tourism industry in South Goa, particularly at Canacona, as the livelihood of the people will be at stake.
Deputy Chairperson Rajeshri Pagi, Councillors Sandesh Gaonkar, Simon Rebello, Champa Pagui and Ratnakar Dhuri along with the chairperson strongly rallied to oppose the proposed Mopa Airport saying instead government should instead spend to expand the Dabolim airport.
The resolution was later moved by Chairperson Bhagat and passed without any opposition.
Councillors Mahadev Dessai and Hemant Gracias did not attend the meeting. However, Chairperson Bhagat claimed that both the councillors are also supportive of the resolution passed in the council.
Incidentally, the anti-Mopa meeting held on Thursday at Palolem had appointed Bhagat as its chairman to head the 15-member Anti Mopa Canacona Action Committee.
