PANJIM: A week after an Indian Navy trainer aircraft crashed on the outskirts of Verna due to bird-hit, the Congress party on Saturday has expressed fears that passenger aircrafts could face similar fate if “mushrooming illegal constructions at Dabolim” are not stopped.
Addressing a press conference in the party head office, spokesman Trajano D’Mello alleged that government is allowing illegalities around Dabolim airport, despite being a protected area.
“The government has remained a mute spectator and is insensitive to this grave incident. Fortunately, the two pilots flew away from populated area and safely ejected saving their own lives, too. But such a disaster could happen to a passenger aircraft. God forbid! Is the government waiting for such a disaster?” he questioned.
D’Mello blamed the government for shying away from taking action against illegal construction despite the naval authorities conveying to the government about the illegality within the funnel zone of the airport and within the radius of four kilometers which is hazardous for aircrafts approaching and taking off from Dabolim.
“The Collector-South Goa has also confirmed that several complaints are received from Naval authorities indicating serious statutory lapses and deviations by the concerned department including local bodies like Director of Panchayat, Town & Country Planning etc. The Collector-South Goa has also confirmed that haphazard development is taking place around the airport,” he added demanding a complete stop to mushrooming illegalities.
