Team Herald

PANJIM: Goa government has requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to allow the commissioning of Dabolim Airport in order to fly back Goans, including seafarers, stranded abroad, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.

“The airport will open like other airports. MEA will decide the flight schedule. We have sent a request to MHA and Ministry of External Affairs to open the airport for bringing back Goans,” Sawant said, after a party meeting in the capital on Thursday.

The Chief Minister also discussed about the return of migrants to their native State. The first train will leave from Goa to Madhya Pradesh carrying around 1,000 migrants on Friday. The exact schedule will be announced soon, he added.

On being asked about Karnataka labourers who were sent back from the border, Sawant said they did not have Karnataka State documents and the officers have been asked to look into the matter.

He also clarified that Goa has not been forcing any labourers to go back to their State, instead has been requesting them to stay back as developmental activities have resumed.

In connection with the ensuing Goa Board exams, revised schedule of which was released on Thursday, Sawant said the government proposes to allow students from close bordering areas to answer the papers.

“Some students from Virdi and other close by bordering areas, are also to answer Goa Board exams. I have asked Education Department and Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education to identify the closest primary schools, which can be their examination centre. The pick and drop arrangement of these students has to be ensured by the concerned school. A final decision will be taken by the Goa Board,” the Chief Minister, who also holds Education portfolio, said.